I wonder how effective it would be to plant catnip in the woods right behind my house? I live in the middle of prime Lyme Disease territory. I've already pulled two ticks off my oldest son this year and several off the dog and he's an inside dog. It's bad... I bought the stuff for their clothes but I don't like the idea of pesticides on them because they're so young. I wouldn't mind spraying them with Catnip oil in water. At least the neighborhood cats won't run from them anymore. :) Do you think planting some would cut down on the number of ticks right behind our house? I could mix a few plants in with the ferns. Deb
-----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 8:46 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [VFB] Mosquito Repellents (That time of the year...) Anybody tried Catnip oil? Mosquito repellent! Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET CHICAGO, August 27, 2001 - Researchers report that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET - the compound used in most commercial insect repellents. The finding was reported today at the 222nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society, by the same Iowa State University research group that two years ago discovered that catnip also repels cockroaches. Entomologist Chris Peterson, Ph.D., with Joel Coats, Ph.D., chair of the university's entomology department, led the effort to test catnip's ability to repel mosquitoes. Peterson, a former post-doctoral research associate at the school, is now with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Wood Products Insects Research Unit, in Starkville, Miss. Peterson says nepetalactone is about 10 times more effective than DEET because it takes about one-tenth as much nepetalactone as DEET to have the same effect. Most commercial insect repellents contain about 5 percent to 25 percent DEET. Presumably, much less catnip oil would be needed in a formulation to have the same level of repellency as a DEET-based repellent. Catnip is a perennial herb belonging to the mint family and grows wild in most parts of the United States, although it also is cultivated for commercial use. Catnip is native to Europe and was introduced to this country in the late 18th century. It is primarily known for the stimulating effect it has on cats, although some people use the leaves in tea, as a meat tenderizer and even as a folk treatment for fevers, colds, cramps and migraines. (American Chemical Society original source.)
