The chemical composition of the volatile metabolites of Crithmum maritimum
harvested from several geographic localities along the Mediterranean coasts
was studied by GC and GC-MSD. The major oil constituents were found to be
dillapiole, gamma -terpinene, sabinene, limonene and beta -phellandrene. Th
e Western populations were richer in dillapiole, whereas the Southern colle
ctions were characterized by increased amounts of thymol methyl ether and g
amma -terpinene. The Italian chemical profiles differentiated by the signif
icant contributions of carvacrol methyl ether and isoterpinolene. The essen
tial oils were also investigated for their insecticidal activity and their
repellency against Pheidole pallidula (Nylander) ants and found to possess
significant activity.