Indoor protection against mosquito and sand fly bites: a comparison between citronella, linalool, and geraniol candles.

Abstract

The repellent effect of 3 essential-oil-based candles was evaluated in a high biting pressure environment in Israel. In human landing assays, the repellency rate of 5% citronella candles against mosquitoes was 29.0%, of 5% linalool candles was 71.1%, and of 5% geraniol candles was 85.4%. The candles with geraniol were about twice as effective as those with linalool and were about 5 times as effective as citronella candles in protecting a person from being bitten indoors by mosquitoes. The repellency rate of 5% citronella candles towards sand flies was 24.7%, of 5% linalool candles was 55.2%, and of 5% geraniol candles was 79.7%. A geraniol candle was almost 5 times as effective as a citronella candle and about twice as effective as a linalool candle in protecting a person from being bitten indoors by sand flies.

• Authors: Günter C Müller, Amy Junnila, Vasiliy D Kravchenko, Edita E Revay, Jerry Butlers, Yosef Schlein
• Journal: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association (J Am Mosq Control Assoc) Vol. 24 Issue 1 Pg. 150-3 (Mar 2008) ISSN: 8756-971X [Print] United States
• PMID: 18437831 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Insect Repellents
• Monoterpenes
• Plant Oils
• Terpenes
• linalool
• geraniol
• citronella oil

Topics

• Acyclic Monoterpenes
• Animals
• Culicidae (drug effects)
• Female
• Humans
• Insect Bites and Stings (prevention & control)
• Insect Repellents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Male
• Monoterpenes (pharmacology)
• Mosquito Control (methods)
• Plant Oils (pharmacology)
• Psychodidae (drug effects)
• Terpenes (pharmacology)