[Objectives]  To investigate the chemical composition of Lantana camara L.leaf essential oil, its biological activity to 3 insect pests, and its potential as a means of controlling insect pests. [Methods]  L. camara leaf essential oil was extracted using the steam distillation method which gave a yield of 0.21%. The essential oil was examined using an Agilent GC-MS (gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer-computer) system. 26 major constituents were identified, but the major constituents were α-curcumene (32.76%), β-caryophyllene (16.36%), caryophyllene oxide (12.22%) and spathulenol (10.48%). After analysis of the chemical composition of this essential oil, its biological activity to 3 insect pests was determined. [Results]  The contact toxicity and repellent effect of L.camara leaf essential oil were tested on Sitophilus oryzae adults, fourth instar larvae of Aedes aegypti, and Reticulitermes flavipes worker. These bioassays showed that the essential oil had significant toxicity to S. oryzae adults and fourth instar larvae of A. aegypti, with LC₅₀ values of 0.92 mg/cm² and 32.33 μg/mL, respectively. The higher the concentration of the essential oil, the stronger its repellent effect and toxicity to the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. High concentrations of essential oil displayed significant contact toxic activity to termites, but mortality from lower concentrations was not significant. [Conclusion]  L. camara leaf essential oil has potential as a means of controlling the 3 insect pests tested.