The present work reported first investigations on fumigant and anti-cholinesterase activities of C. aurantium
essential oils and pure limonene towards Tunisian strain of Bemisia tabaci. GC and GC–MS analysis
showed a high percent of limonene (87.523%). C. aurantium oils and the single compound were known
to be potent AChE inhibitor with IC50 value of 2.94 mM and 3.54 mM, respectively. Furthermore, it was
observed that the oil and its major compound showed a reversible non-competitive inhibition revealed
that these components might bind both the enzyme alone and the enzyme–substrate. Significant pest
fumigant activity was demonstrated. Fumigant treatments have shown that B. tabaci mortality rate
increased with the increase in essential oils concentration. Complete insect mortality was detected at the
highest concentration (20 L/L air) within 24 h of exposure, whereas, at the least concentration (2.5 L/L
air) mortality varied from 41 to 47.67% for the single compound and the oil, respectively. These results
suggest that oils from C. aurantium peels may be promising as models to develop new insecticides that
might be applied into the integrated management of whiteflies.