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WARNING
catnip oil may attract bees and fire ants !

Our research has demonstrated that catnip oil which contains
the terpenoid chemical known as nepetalactone attracts honeybees and possibly
fire ants. Recently we conducted a test and applied small quantities of pure
cis-trans nepetalactone to a wooden substrate base of a bee hive. At the time of
application there were only a few bees within close proximity. After a short
period of time < 10 minutes, numerous bees had clustered around the point of
application. Further exacting research and tests will be conducted to
conclusively prove the observations that nepetalactone and its isomers
attract bees.

pre application 100 microlitres pure cis-trans nepetalactone

post application within 10 minutes
As for fire ants, these insects utilizes chemicals similar to
nepetalactone within their scent trails. Some species actually are a source of
nepetalactone.
Caution is our
suggestion if you are contemplating using any insect repellent which uses
nepetalactone from catnip oil as a component in composition.
Numerous catnip oil based insect repellent products have come
onto the market since the University of Iowa study declared finding that
nepetalactone is somewhat more effective than DEET in repelling
mosquitoes.
Iowa
State Research Study
The Kooky Kat Catnip Company is a supplier of high quality
catnip oil and near pure 100 % cis-trans nepetalactone purified oil solutions. We have sold
to and consulted with numerous researcher around the world which are actively
developing catnip oil based repellents.
Field data on the use of catnip oil as an insect
repellent
During 2003 we conducted a research study on the field
effectiveness of catnip oil, nepetalactone solutions at repelling mosquitoes and
other insects. Samples were sent out under a liability waiver to subjects
willing to test the oil, and report back to us on their findings. We chose
global participants that were situated in key areas that are prone to high mosquito
populations, and have virus issues. Twenty three of the study participants
have responded to date.
The responses suggest that a 4 % solution of catnip oil in
spring water seemed to repel mosquitoes for a short period of time, usually less
than 20 minutes. Catnip oil within carrier oils like mineral oil which were used
in an attempt to slow the evaporation of nepetalactone, did not prolong
the repellency period. The rate of reapplication was somewhat constant, as the
effectiveness of the oil seems to decline rapidly after application.
Most
subjects used up a 1 oz bottle within a few days, and returned to using DEET
based repellents. All subjects remained pestered
by, and bitten by mosquitoes. The smell of the catnip oil, even at 4 %
concentration was considered by most to be quite overpowering, resulting for
some in feelings of malaise.
An improvement on the catnip oil based repellent would be to
add a component of citronella oil, sage oil, pennyroyal, and other similar oils.
Basically every essential oil has an insecticide, antiseptic, anti fungal, and antimicrobial character. After all that what Mother Nature's intention was in
the first place. For centuries people have known and used essential oils for
this purpose, we are only just now rediscovering the uses as we jump on the
enviro-band wagon !

We have tried using a spray containing a cascade of these oils
plus thujone from wormwood. This setup seems to work extremely well, but is FAR
to dangerous and toxic to be used by the public. Thujone from wormwood, cedar
leaf oil, tansy and many other plants is a very dangerous chemical, and should
be used only for research purposes, and not for commercial products. Remember
VanGogh went a bit crazy from Absinthe, a drink that contains a high quantity of
thujone.
Thujone
Information pdf format
Absinthe
Information
IMPORTANT
INFORMATION FOR DEVELOPERS OF ANY INSECT REPELLENT PRODUCT !
EPA regulation of pesticides
The U.S. EPA regulates pesticides under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA
Environmental
Protection Agency web site USA
EPA
PESTICIDES REGULATION REGISTRATION
Pest Control Product
Act CANADA
Minimum Risk Pesticides 25 B List EPA
Note: Additional information about this list
is available in PR
Notice 2000-6 (
PDF
)
40 CFR ' 152.25(f)
Minimum risk pesticides
1)
Exempted
products. Products containing the following
active ingredients are exempt from the requirements of FIFRA, alone or in
combination with other substances listed in this paragraph, provided that all
of the criteria of this section are met.
Castor oil (U.S.P. or equivalent) Cedar oil Cinnamon and cinnamon oil Citric acid Citronella and Citronella oil Cloves and clove oil Corn gluten meal Corn oil Cottonseed oil Dried Blood Eugenol Garlic and garlic oil Geraniol Geranium oil Lauryl sulfate Lemongrass oil Linseed oil Malic acid Mint and mint oil Peppermint and peppermint oil 2-Phenethyl propionate (2-phenylethyl propionate) Potassium sorbate Putrescent whole egg solids Rosemary and rosemary oil Sesame (includes ground sesame plant) and sesame oil Sodium chloride (common salt) Sodium lauryl sulfate Soybean oil Thyme and thyme oil White pepper Zinc metal strips (consisting solely of zinc metal and impurities)
(2) Permitted
inerts. A pesticide product exempt under
paragraph (g)(1) of this section may only include inert ingredients listed in
the most current List 4A. This list is updated periodically and is published
in the Federal Register. The most current list may be obtained by writing to:
list4A
MINIMAL RISK INERTS.pdf
list4B NO RISK INERTS.pdf
Registration Support Branch (4A Inerts List) Registration Division (7505C), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20460
(3) Other
conditions of exemption. All of the following
conditions must be met for products to be exempted under this section:
(i) Each product containing the substance
must bear a label identifying the name and percentage (by weight) of each
active ingredient and the name of each inert ingredient.
(ii) The product must not bear claims
either to control or mitigate microorganisms that pose a threat to human
health, including but not limited to disease transmitting bacteria or
viruses, or claims to control insects or rodents carrying specific diseases,
including, but not limited to ticks that carry Lyme disease.
(iii) The product must not include any false
and misleading labeling statements, including those listed in 40 CFR
156.10(a)(5)(i) through (viii).
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