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A bioassay guided fractionation of the essential oil of Ageratum conyzoides results in the isolation of an unsaturated branched chain fatty acid. Spectroscopic analysis has been used to identify the compound as (Z)-6-methyl-12-heptadecenoic acid. The compound shows insecticidal and growth regulatory activity against the desert locust Schistocerca gregaria. Besides mortality, the compound also causes disturbances at the nymphal-adult moult resulting in deformity. The characteristic features of the deformity is the short fore-wings due to incomplete expansion.