The insecticidal activity of extracts obtained from aerial parts of Talguenea quinquenervis (Gill. et Hook) were evaluated using bioassay against larvae of Drosophila melanogaster. All extracts tested had insecticidal activity, the most active being those that contain alkaloids. From the most active fraction, it was possible to identify the known alkaloids coclaurine, armepavine and N-methylcoclaurine. © 2011 Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas.