the essential oils from leaves and inflorescences of hyptis martiusii benth were analyzed by gc-ms. twenty-six compounds representing 93.2% of the essential oil of leaves were characterized; delta-3-carene (22.5%), 1,8-cineole (24.27%), beta-caryophyllene (6.15%), and bicyclogermacrene (6.32%) were found as the major components. in the essential oil of inflorescences 27 compounds representing 87.7% of the oil were identified. the major components were delta-3-carene (13.5%), alpha-pinene (5.78%), beta-caryophyllene (6.59%), viridiflorene (8.25%), and germacrene b (5.21%). the essential oil of leaves and 1,8-cineole showed pronounced insecticidal effect against aedes aegypti larvae and bemisia argentifolii, the vectors of dengue fever and white fly fruit plague, respectively.