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Source
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm
Source
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/using-catnip-to-repel-mosquitoes-and-insects
RELATED
http://news.rutgers.edu/research-news/super-catnip-repels-mosquitos-and-drives-cats-wild/20150920#.WTIutso2yM8
Considering all the exotic diseases now being spread by mosquitos it is more important than ever to protect yourself from their bites. Catnip may be the answer to keeping you safe. You can plant this herb in your garden or balcony, rub your skin with it, and keep pesky mosquitos away. This page also includes instructions on how to prepare a home-made lotion.
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 by the American Chemical Society, the world’s largest scientific society, by the same Iowa State University research group that discovered that catnip also repels cockroaches.
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.
Continue reading and learn how to prepare a lotion
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.
While they used so-called yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) — one of several species of mosquitoes found in the United States — Peterson says catnip should work against all types of mosquitoes.
Aedes aegypti, which can carry the yellow fever virus from one host to another, is found in most parts of the United States.
Peterson put groups of 20 mosquitoes in a two-foot glass tube, half of which was treated with nepetalactone. After 10 minutes, only an average of 20 percent — about four mosquitoes — remained on the side of the tube treated with a high dose (1.0 percent) of the oil.
In the low-dose test (0.1 percent) with nepetalactone, an average of 25 percent — five mosquitoes — stayed on the treated side. The same tests with DEET (diethyl-m-toluamide) resulted in approximately 40 percent to 45 percent — eight-nine mosquitoes — remaining on the treated side.
Why catnip repels mosquitoes is still a mystery, says Peterson. “It might simply be acting as an irritant or they don’t like the smell. But nobody really knows why insect repellents work.”
If subsequent testing shows nepetalactone is safe for people, Peterson thinks it would not be too difficult to commercialize it as an insect repellent.
Extracting nepetalactone oil from catnip is fairly easily, he says. “Any high school science lab would have the equipment to distill this, and on the industrial scale it’s quite easy.”
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.
A patent application for the use of catnip compounds as insect repellents was submitted last year by the Iowa State University Research Foundation. Funding for the research was from the Iowa Agriculture Experiment Station.
Chris Peterson, Ph.D., is a former post-doctoral research associate at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, and is now a Research Entomologist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Wood Products Insect Research Service, in Starkville, Miss.
Joel R. Coats, Ph.D., is professor of entomology and toxicology and Chair of the Department of Entomology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa.
Source
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm
THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS ARE
FROM THE DOITYOURSELF WEBSITE.
I haven't personally tried it
Recently, catnip has been shown to work as an effective repellant of bugs and insects, including mosquitoes.
Here are a couple of ways that you can use it and try its effectiveness for yourself:
What You'll Need
Catnip
Water
Spray bottle
Pot
Stove
Food processor
Strainer
Catnip Oil
Isopropyl alcohol
Vinegar
Rosemary
Glycerin
Mason jar
Step 1 – Grow Catnip
Begin by sowing some seeds in your garden according to the instructions listed on the seed package. Water regularly and wait until you have several leafy stalks on the plant. Once you do, remove a few large stalks.
Step 2 – Prepare Catnip Steeped Bug Spray
Take the stalks inside and strip the leaves off of them. Place the leaves in a food processor and place the pulp in a pot. Heat 2 cups of water to the boiling point and pour it over the catnip. Steep the catnip in the water for about 10 minutes and proceed to strain the leaves out. Pour this mixture into a spray bottle and refrigerate. Spray onto your clothing as you would any other bug spray.
Step 3 - Making Catnip Oil Spray
To create a spray using a catnip oil, add 1 cup isopropyl alcohol and 1 cup water to a half teaspoon of the catnip essential oil. Pour into a spray bottle and use on clothing as a repellant. Though this recipe is the most effective, it is not suitable for children and pets.
Step 4 – Making Vinegar and Catnip Spray
Another effective repellant includes vinegar and catnip. Crush the leaves of 2 cups of catnip and combine with 3 cups of rice vinegar or white vinegar into a quart mason jar. Close the jar with a lid and store in a dark cabinet for two weeks. Shake the mixture every day. At the end of 2 weeks, strain the spray into a squirt bottle and refrigerate. Use on clothing and skin to keep the bugs away.
Step 5 – Making Catnip/Rosemary Bugspray
Crush 2 cups of catnip and 1 cup of rosemary leaves using your hands or a rolling pin. Place the mixture in a clean quart mason jar and cover completely with 2 cups of glycerin or other body oil. Leave the jar in a dark cupboard for 2 weeks, shaking daily. Strain the pulp out after 2 weeks and place the oil into a new jar. Refrigerate and use the oil as needed when working outdoors.
If you prefer, add a small amount of citronella or lemon balm to your mixture to both enhance the scent and help in repelling mosquitoes. Catnip only is effective on certain kinds of mosquitoes, so you may want to test a small batch of any of these recipes to see if they work on the mosquitoes in your area before preparing a larger quantity.
If you find that they are effective, steep a large batch of repellant and store in the refrigerator all summer long and enjoy a great natural remedy for your bug problem.
Source
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/using-catnip-to-repel-mosquitoes-and-insects
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