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Repellants are the name used to describe various types of deterrents that work on certain species of animals. Repellants are most often used to repel insects, including mosquitoes and ticks. What types of repellants do we distinguish? Which will effectively repel ticks? We have collected the most important information about repellants.
Repellants – how do they work?
Repellants include all repellants (including chemicals) whose main purpose is to deter certain animal species. We use them, among others preventing bites from ticks and mosquitoes. The functioning of repellants can be based on various principles – sometimes the group of repellants includes chemicals that cause an unpleasant smell to certain animals or irritate the respiratory system of insects.
Repellants, however, can be sounds that repel animals as well as certain physical obstacles – such as shiny aluminum foil that repels birds. The use of repellants is included in biological protection methods.
Most often, repellants are spoken of with insects in mind.
Insect repellents – types
The collection of agents intended to combat the presence of insects includes, first of all, various types of chemical compounds:
- creams,
- oils,
- aerosols,
- liquids
- aluminum mesh / foils,
- sound producing devices.
We use repellants mainly in the warm months, when there is an excess of insects and their presence becomes felt “on your own skin”. The most frequently controlled animal species with the use of repellants include flies, mosquitoes and ticks. Nevertheless, some types of repellants are used all year round.
Repellants can be divided into several categories depending on their origin. The first is formed by the so-called natural repellants, that is, made of substances found in nature. It includes various types of essential oils, whose exceptionally intense aroma acts as a deterrent to selected insect intruders. The most popular essential oil repellants include eucalyptus oil (which is especially effective in combination with peppermint oil), lavender oil for bedbugs and the generally used clove oil.
- Check what properties essential oils have
Natural repellants also include the use of insectivorous or insect repellent plants. First of all – plants that can be grown on a balcony and thus can act as a barrier against insects – mosquito, basil, marigold, eucalyptus, mint, geraniums, vanilla, tomatoes, onions, lavender, elderberry, cloves, lemon and wormwood.
- Which remedies best protect against ticks? What to spray children and animals with?
Chemical agents are another group of repellants. We include all agents in the form of creams, sprays, lotions, sticky notes and others, the properties of which allow you to repel insects. Due to the large range of products, it should be noted first that chemical repellants can be classified according to the degree of their toxicity. The least toxic are suitable for contact with human skin and can be applied directly to it.
The most toxic repellants are for adult use only and are not suitable for skin contact.
A particularly popular form of chemical repellants are sprays designed to fight the presence of stinging insects.
Tick repellents – which will be the most effective?
The most effective repellants to repel ticks include:
- Band for ticks – band soaked in oils is put on the wrist;
- patches for ticks – a patch soaked in essential oils does not need to be glued to the body. You can stick it anywhere (on clothes, a backpack or a pram). The patches are less effective than sprays;
- Sprays and aerosols for ticks – before a trip to the forest or a walk to the meadow, it is enough to spray yourself with a spray or aerosol that will scare away ticks.
Composition of repellants – what is DEET?
DEET is the short name for a chemical that is popularly used as one of the active ingredients biocidal repellants. It is a measure of high efficiency and – unfortunately – low safety of use. When using repellants containing DEET, be especially careful in contact with eyes and skin.
DEET is a colorless or light yellow liquid with an intense and irritating odor. It is easily soluble in water and reacts chemically with strong acids, bases and oxidants. In contact with insects, DEET works by irritating their sensory receptors, which in turn scares them away and repels them. In addition, DEET in contact with the skin blocks the action of one of the enzymes essential for the proper functioning of the nervous system (acetylcholinesterase). DEET therefore also acts as a neurotoxin.
DEET is mainly used to combat the presence of: ticks, flies, horse flies, bees and wasps, as well as many other types of stinging insects. It is scientifically proven to work – a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found it to be the most effective mosquito repellent.
Additional forms of protection against insects
If you want to protect against insects, it is worth not only using natural or chemical repellants. Caring for your own clothes can be just as effective. When going for a walk to a meadow with tall grass or to a forest – we also risk the possibility of contact with dangerous insects.
- Find out more: A method of protection against Lyme disease
To some extent, long-sleeved clothes, socks with a strong ribbing and a hat will protect us from ticks and mosquitoes. In addition, after each trip to the bosom of nature, you should carefully examine the surface of your body, looking for insect intruders, and take a shower. It is also worth paying attention to the clothes – you should make sure that there are no ticks in its nooks and crannies.
We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time we devote it to epigenetics. What is? How can we influence our genes? Do our elderly grandparents give us a chance for a long and healthy life? What is trauma inheritance and is it possible to somehow oppose this phenomenon? Listen: