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...

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...

The contact chemosensilla on the labellum of the fly are in the form of a hair housing five sensory neurons, i.e. four contact chemoreceptor cells and one mechanoreceptor neuron (Ozaki and Tominaga, 1999). Three of the four chemoreceptor cells are the sugar, salt and water receptor cells, respectively. The remaining chemoreceptor cell, traditionally called the ‘fifth cell’, has recently been pr...

BACKGROUND Storage of secondary metabolites with a putative defensive role occurs in the so-called mantle dermal formations (MDFs) that are located in the more exposed parts of the body of most and very likely all members of an entire family of marine mollusks, the chromodorid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia). Given that these structures usually lack a duct system, the mechanism for ex...

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...

The stable fly, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) (Diptera: Muscidae), is one of the most serious pests to livestock. It feeds mainly on cattle and causes significant economic losses in the cattle industry. Standard stable fly control involving insecticides and sanitation is usually costly and often has limited effectiveness. As we continue to evaluate and develop safer fly control strategies, the prese...

For many herbivorous mammals, oils from conifers are feeding repellents. Our study investigated effects of pine needle oil on feeding and other behaviors of northern pocket gophers. In onechoice feeding trials pocket gophers were offered sweet potato from single feeding stations placed into each subject's home cage. Stations contained either a scent dispenser with pine needle oil or with minera...