The development cycle of C. maculatus on chickpea seeds lasts from (29± 2 days) under laboratory conditions (28°C temperature and 75% relative humidity) with four developmental stages: egg, three larval stage, nymph and adult, as well as essential oils extracted by hydrodistillation from the aromatic plant Origanum compactum (Lamiaceae) were tested at different doses on the adults of Callosobruchus maculatus (chickpea bruchid) by contact and inhalation.  Our results revealed that the insecticidal activity, EO caused total mortality of C. maculatus adults at a dose of 16 μL/L of air tested by contact during 24 h of exposure. A significant mortality of 80% was recorded with the high dose 20 μL/L of air tested by inhalation during 24 h of exposure.

Key words: Callosobruchus maculatus, insecticidal activity, essential oils, Origanum compactum, seeds, chickpea, life cycle.