Insect repellent

Description

Odorous chemicals that insects are thought to avoid. In general, insect repellents do not kill the insect. Examples of insect repellents are: Citronella oil, Eucalyptus oil, dimethyl phthalate, Deet, n-n,dimethyl-meta-toluamide (Off), Naphthalene (mothballs), Phenol, Camphor, Paradichlorobenzene (mothballs), Cedar oil, pine tar oil, Colocynth oil, Permethrin, etc. Some insect repellents can stain or dissolve polymers.

Synonyms and Related Terms

citronella; dimethyl phthalate; DEET; n-n,dimethyl-meta-toluamide (Off Insect repellent); naphthalene (mothballs); phenol; camphor; paradichlorobenzene (mothballs); cedar oil; pine tar oil; colocynth

Authority

• Lynda A. Zycherman, J.Richard Schrock, A Guide to Museum Pest Control, FAIC and Association of Systematics Collections, Washington DC, 1988

• Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, at http://www.wikipedia.com Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent (Accessed Jan. 6, 2006)