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Global population is expected to increase to 9x109 individuals by 2050, which highlights the need to produce more food in a more sustainable way. The demand for alternatives to synthetic insecticides is reflected in the increasing amount of research dealing with essential oils as insecticidal and repellent compounds. Argentina has large regions of tropical, temperate, and cold climates, where many essential oil-producing plants grow and develop. In this context, the aim of the present study was to revise the most relevant literature about the insecticidal and repellent properties of essential oils from Argentine aromatic flora. The first section of the present review covers those essential oils used to control insects that are important to affect human and animal health, such as mosquitoes, flies, bed bugs, and vinchucas. The second part addresses essential oils that could be used as insecticides and repellents in horticulture and agriculture such as oilseed, such as moths, bugs, fruit flies, different phloem-sap-feeding insect species that attack vegetable and fruit crops, and weevils and beetles that affect stored grains and food commodities. Throughout this review, the toxicity of the most bioactive essential oils is discussed by considering their chemical profile and their major pure compounds molecular features. This literature review highlights the enormous potential of Argentine essential oils to be included in repellent and insecticidal formulations.

Sitophilus zeamais is a primary pest of maize. Our aim was to perform a qualitative review and meta-analyses with 56 scientific articles published from 1 January 2000 to 1 October 2022 dealing with direct (topical application) and indirect (impregnation of essential oils, EOs, onto filter paper or maize grains) contact toxicity of EOs against S. zeamais. Three independent meta-analyses of single means of LD50 (direct contact) and LC50 (indirect contact) were conducted using a random effect model. Essential oils more frequently evaluated were those belonging to Asteraceae, Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, and Rutaceae. The LC50 global mean values were 33.19 µg/insect (CI95 29.81–36.95) for topical application; 0.40 µL/cm2 (CI95 0.25–0.65) for filter paper indirect contact; and 0.50 µL/g maize (CI95 0.27–0.90) for maize grains indirect contact. The species Carum carvi, Salvia umbratica, Ilicium difengpi, Periploca sepium, Cephalotaxus sinensis, Murraya exotica, Rhododendron anthopogonoides, Ruta graveolens, Eucalyptus viminalis, Ocotea odorifera, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus dunnii, Anethum graveolens, Ilicium verum, Cryptocarya alba, Azadirachta indica, Chenopodium ambrosioides, Cupressus semperivens, Schinus molle, Piper hispidinervum, Mentha longifolia, and Croton pulegiodorus showed LC50 or LD50 values lower than the global means, indicating good insecticidal properties. Our results showed that EOs have great potential to be used as bioinsecticides against S. zeamais.