Skip to main content
Entomology 2021 Main banner
Icon Legend
This session is not in your schedule.
This session is in your schedule. Click again to remove it.
Presentation Icons
In-Person
In-Person
Livestream
Livestream
On-Demand
On-Demand
Student Competition
Student Competition
Video Chat
Video Chat
Ticketed Event
Ticketed Event
Poster Icons
Student Competition
Student Competition
In-Person
In-Person
Poster
Poster
On-Demand
On-Demand
Video Q&A ViewAttendees 4

Medical, Urban, and Veterinary Entomology

Section Symposium

Advance Research in Insect Repellents On-Demand Presentations

Using catnip to repel ticks, mosquitoes and bed bugs

On-Demand
On-Demand

    Presenting Author(s)

  • James E. Simon

    Distinguished Professor of Plant Biology
    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Princeton, New Jersey

    • Co-Author(s)

  • AL

    Anthony Lockhart

    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    New Brunswick, New Jersey

  • Dina M. Fonseca

    Professor
    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    New Brunswick, New Jersey

  • AT

    Alvaro Toldeo

    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    New Brunswick, New Jersey

  • Changlu Wang

    Professor
    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    New Brunswick, New Jersey

    • Co-author(s)

  • QW

    Qing-Li Wu

    Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    New Brunswick, New Jersey

Nepeta cataria L., commonly known as catnip or catmint, is a perennial, herbaceous, shrub species belonging to the family Lamiaceae. Scientific interest in this plant relies on the plants essential oil that contains the bioactive nepetalactone, an aromatic volatile with repellent activity against a wide range of human and animal pests.  Despite the increasing interest, the commercial constraints remain challenging. Our research has led to the genetic improvement of new varieties and genetics that have higher yields of essential oils with higher concentrations of nepetalactone to overcome some of the current production constraints. Ongoing laboratory studies have shown that the nepetalactone and these improved varieties can be as effective as DEET against two species of ticks, two species of mosquitoes and bed bugs. Work to be presented highlights the transdisciplinary work between our genetics, natural products chemistry and vector biology team in developing this natural repellent.