Insect repellent
(Redirected from Insect repellant)
Commercial insect repellents.
A mosquito biting a human.
An insect repellent is a substance applied to skin, clothing, or other surfaces which discourage insects (and arthropods in general) from landing or climbing on that surface.
Common insect repellents include:
- citronella
- DEET
- oil of lemon eucalyptus
- picaridin (a piperidine derivative)
Some insect repellents, particularly permethrin, are insecticides.
Insect repellents help prevent and control the outbreak of insect-borne diseases such as malaria, Lyme disease, bubonic plague, and West Nile fever. Insects commonly serving as vectors for disease include fleas, flies, mosquitos, and ticks.
External links and sources
- List of insect repellents, from the privately-maintained "Compendium of Pesticide Common Names"
- Best Insect Repellent for Mosquitoes, a 2003 Consumer Reports article hosted by WebMD
- Picaridin: a new insect repellent, a 2004 Journal of Drugs in Dermatology article hosted by FindArticles
- CDC Adopts New Repellent Guidance, a 2005 press release from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Categories: Chemistry stubs | Household chemicals | Insects | Pesticides