Botanical Mosquito Repellents

摘要

Mosquitoes have caused misery and suffering throughout recorded history. They carry malaria, dengue, yellow fever and other serious diseases to millions of people each year. In the U.S, West Nile fever has reached epidemic proportions. The best mosquito management strategy combines elimination of breeding sites, larval control, and use of personal repellents. This approach optimizes mosquito protection and minimizes environmental disruption (Quarles 2001; Olkowski 2001). However, N,N-diethyltoluamide, or deet, which is the best synthetic repellent, can cause neurological problems in small children. Experts now recommend that it not be used on children under the age of two (Fradin and Day 2002). Deet also is easily absorbed and slowly eliminated, leading to accumulation of large amounts during regular applications (Robbins and Cherniack 1986). The various shortcomings of deet have triggered a worldwide search to find a better repellent. Since synthetic avenues seem exhausted (see below), the best hope may lie in the near-infinite diversity of the plant kingdom.