As the most extensively used chemical repellent, N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (DEET) displayed repellency to a wide range of insects, including the common bed bug, Cimex lectularius. While the neuronal or molecular basis involved in DEET's repellency have been majorly focused on mosquitos and fruit flies, DEET's repellency to the common bed bug is largely unreached. To gain new insights into t...

Abrasion of repellent-treated human skin affected the efficacy of a sustained-release insect repellent containing N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide (deet) against bites of Aedes aegypti. Skin treated with repellent when abraded up to 30 times showed significantly lower protection than unabraded skin against mosquito bites for 10 h. The mean value of the kinetic coefficient of friction during skin a...

Pharaoh's ants organise their foraging system using three types of trail pheromone. All previous foraging models based on specific ant foraging systems have assumed that only a single attractive pheromone is used. Here we present an agent-based model based on trail choice at a trail bifurcation within the foraging trail network of a Pharaoh's ant colony which includes both attractive (positive)...

The increase in insecticide resistant mosquito populations necessitates the exploration of novel vector control intervention measures. Push-pull strategies for insect control have been successful when used in integrated crop pest management. Through the combinatory use of deterring and attracting stimuli, the abundance of insect pests can be changed in a given area. A push-pull strategy might a...

BACKGROUND Loxoscelism is a severe reaction to the bite of the spider Loxosceles laeta. In recent years, a paint with repellent properties has been promoted in the commerce. However, there are no reports of experiments evaluating its effectiveness. AIM To evaluate experimentally the repellent properties of a paint against Loxosceles laeta. MATERIAL AND METHODS Males, females and nymphs of L...

The availability of multiple sources of food and drink has a profound influence on choice behavior in rodents. It is not known how other taxa might respond to the same kind of variation in availability. We tested European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) with various combinations of unadulterated and repellent-treated (0.025% citronellyl acetate) resources. In Experiment 1, birds drank more plain t...

We investigated the repellency and toxicity of eight plant extracts containing celangulin, cnidium lactone, matrine, nicotine, pyrethrins, rotenone, stemonine veratrine against western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis Pergande; Thysanoptera: Thripidae). Flowers treated with 0.05% rotenone harbored fewer in two- multiple-choice bioassays. When evaluated at concentrations varying from 0....

AIM OF THE STUDY Repellent plants usage is an integral part of Ethiopian tradition and has been practiced over many centuries. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and usage custom of traditional insect/mosquito repellent plants among the Oromo ethnic group in Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ethnobotanical survey was conducted between January and March 2009. All 276 ho...

Case presentation A 53 year-old female bridge inspector presented with allergic reaction to diethyltoluamide (DEET) containing insect repellent. She had prior use without difficulty. In 2013, she used the insect repellent and with only a small amount making contact with her forehead, she had immediate pruritus and erythema on her forehead, persisting for an hour. The following week, she used a ...