While enjoying the outdoors or other indoor parts of your house, you may be forced to deal with common house bugs such as ticks, mosquitos, black flies, midges, and other biting insects.
Besides the nuisance, serious illnesses and diseases can be caused by these pests. That’s why controlling them as early as possible through repellents should be a priority.
Did you know that pesky bug bites can often be avoided with a little chemistry? We all know about spray-on insect repellent, more commonly called bug spray, which keeps the bugs away whether we’re lounging at the beach or hiking in the woods.
You may often think the term “repellent” refers only to a product that kills insects, but repellent is a broader term that is available in many forms, including lotions, wipes, pumps, candles, impregnated cartridges, and pressurized sprays. Among various repellents available in the market today, an effective and safe method to repel pests is called 2-undecanone.
Natural Insect Repellants Pros
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Natural insect repellants lower the risks of getting a disease carried by ticks and mosquitos.
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Natural insect repellants are better for the skin.
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Natural insect repellants smell better.
Natural Insect Repellants Cons
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Natural insect repellants may cause allergic reactions to sensitive people.
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Natural insect repellants may cause eye irritation if gets into the eye.
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Natural insect repellants may cause serious side effects if directions are not followed properly.
What Is 2-Undecanone?
2-undecanone, or also known as methyl nonyl ketone or IBI-246, is an oily, plant-based repellent that has shown some effectiveness against ticks and mosquitoes.
It is a colorless oil. It is usually produced synthetically, but it can also be extracted from various plant sources, including from essential oil of rue. It is found naturally in bananas, cloves, ginger, guava, strawberries, wild-grown tomatoes, and the perennial leaf vegetable.
Scientifically speaking, 2-Undecanone is a volatile organic compound, which inhibits the DnaKJE-ClpB bichaperone dependent refolding of heat-inactivated bacterial luciferases. 2-Undecanone inhibits lung tumorigenesis.
Apart from being an effective pesticide, 2-undecanone substance is also commonly used in the washing & cleaning products, air care products, polishes and waxes, cosmetics and personal care products, and perfumes and fragrances. Other release to the environment of this substance is likely to occur from indoor and outdoor use as a processing aid.
How 2-Undecanone Works Against Pests?
2-undecanone is a natural non-toxic insect repellent compound, and was recently isolated from the trichomes of wild tomatoes. It is currently being introduced as a replacement for insect repellents containing N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide or DEET, which are permitted for use on children older than 2months.
Because of its strong odor, it is primarily used as an insect repellent or animal repellent. Typically, 1–2% concentrations of 2-undecanone are found in dog and cat repellents in the form of a liquid, aerosol spray, or gel.
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If you are tired of living with mosquitos or want to take steps to protect yourself and your loved ones, check out these mosquito repellents for you.
Discover the Best Repellent Against MosquitoesGet Pest Guides and Reviews
For more information regarding the safe use of insect repellents, visit Pest Guide now where you can find more ways to keep pests out of your home.
We’ve put together a guide to help you decide what option is best to squash your pest problem. Our free resources, guides, and product reviews are available for you to use when removing pests on your property.
It’s also best to consult professionals if your repellent no longer works for your pest problem. When home remedies fail, it may be time to call in an expert.
Pro Tip
“If you are concerned about possible side effects and toxicity from harsh chemicals, you might consider bug repellents with other kinds of active ingredients from plants.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, the pesticide 2-undecanone is soluble, but only in certain liquids. It is worth noting that this colorless to pale yellow liquid is only soluble in alcohol and oil, but not in water.
No, 2-undecanone is not toxic to humans. It is low in toxicity to animals, although broadcast applications of the granular products can result in enough chemicals available to birds to cause toxicity or death.
Yes, 2-undecanone is an EPA-registered insect repellent. This means that this pesticide has been evaluated and approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and it is proven to be safe and effective.
You should wash out your eyes immediately with fresh running water. Ensure complete irrigation of the eye by keeping eyelids apart and away from the eye and moving the eyelids by occasionally lifting the upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention without delay; if pain persists or recurs seek medical attention.
2-undecanone offers long-lasting protection from mosquitoes and ticks but its ingredients were less effective compared with DEET, Picaridin, and OLE, offering limited protection. However, 2-Undecanone is relatively safer, but should still be used with caution, especially on children.
Yes. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), insect repellents like 2-undecanone are considered safe during pregnancy when used as recommended.
