Insect Repellents From Natural Sources
There are many preparations from naturally occurring sources that are repellent to certain insects. Some of these act as insecticides while others are only repellent.
- Achillea alpina (mosquitos)
- alpha-terpinene (mosquitos)
- Basil
- Sweet Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- Callicarpa americana (Beautyberry)
- Camphor (moths)
- Carvacrol (mosquitos)
- Castor oil (Ricinus communis) (mosquitos)
- Catnip oil (Nepeta species) (nepetalactone against mosquitos) (although attracts cats)
- Cedar oil (mosquitos, moths)
- Celery extract (Apium graveolens) (mosquitos) In clinical testing an extract of celery was demonstrated to be at least equally effective to 25% DEET, although the commercial availability of such an extract is not known.
- Cinnamon (leaf oil kills mosquito larvae)
- Citronella oil (repels mosquitos)
- Oil of cloves (mosquitos)
- Eucalyptus oil (70%+ eucalyptol), (cineol is a synonym), mosquitos, flies, dust mites)
- Fennel oil (Foeniculum vulgare) (mosquitos)
- Garlic (Allium sativum) (rice weevil, wheat flour beetle)
- Geranium oil (also known as Pelargonium graveolens)
- Lavender (repels insects, although attracts bumble bees)
- Lemon eucalyptus (Corymbia citriodora) essential oil and its active ingredient p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD)
- Lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon species) (mosquitos)
- East-Indian Lemon Grass (Cymbopogon flexuosus)
- Marigolds (Tagetes species)
- Marjoram (Spider mites Tetranychus urticae and Eutetranychus orientalis)
- Neem oil (Azadirachta indica) (Repels or kills mosquitos, their larvae and a plethora of other insects including those in agriculture)
- Oleic acid, repels bees and ants by simulating the "Smell of death" produced by their decomposing corpses. It is a 400 millions years old natural mechanisms helping to sanitise the hives or to escape predators
- Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) (mosquitos, fleas), but very toxic to pets.
- Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) (mosquitos)
- Pyrethrum (from Chrysanthemum species, particularly C. cinerariifolium and C. coccineum)
- Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) (mosquitos)
- Spanish Flag (Lantana camara) (against Tea Mosquito Bug, Helopeltis theivora)
- Tea tree oil
- Thyme (Thymus species) (mosquitos)
- Yellow Nightshade (Solanum villosum), berry juice (against Stegomyia aegypti mosquitos)
- Andrographis paniculata extracts(mosquito)
Read more about this topic: Insect Repellent
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