Foram testados o óleo essencial do capim-gordura (Melinis minutiflora Beauv.), obtido por arraste com vapor d'água, e os monoterpenos a e b-pineno, contra larvas do carrapato-do-boi (Boophilus microplus), causando 100% de letalidade, em dez minutos. A análise deste óleo por CGlEM permitiu a identificação de quatro dentre os cinco componentes principais, como hexanal, 1,8-cineol, 2,6-di-t-butil-4-metilfenol e 9-(E)-eicoseno. O 2,6-di-t-butil-4-metilfenol é proveniente do éter dietílico utilizado na obtenção do óleo essencial.The essential oil of molasses grass (Melinis minutiflora Beauv.) obtained by steam distillation and the monoterpenes a and b-pinene have been tested against Boophilus microplus larvae showing lethal effect within ten minutes. GC/MS analysis of the molasses grass essential oil allowed the identification of four out of the five major constituents as hexanal, 1,8-cineole, 2,6-di-t-butil-4-methylphenol and 9-(E)-eicosene. The 2,6-di-t-butil-4-methylphenol was found in the diethyl ether used for the extraction of the essential oil
