Lemon Eucalyptus and Black Flies

Thomas Linton

Thomas Linton

Joined
Jun 16, 2003
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I knew the G had OK'd Lemon Eucalyptus-based repellants for skeeters and biting flies, but I put some to the test last weekend when we encountered -- in October for Pete's sake! - Black Flies.

The Repel Lemon Eucalyptus replellant not only kept them from biting, they actually stopped hanging around me.

To bad I didn't realize they were BF's until they had nailed me twenty-seven !*%$@8 times. :o

I had expected skeeters since there had not been a frost in that part of western PA, but BF's were a big/bad surprise.
 
Good news!
Is there anything else special in these repellents? Like deet as well?

If not I could make it myself. Tons of Eucalyptus here in Cali. It works good for keeping around your house if you have dogs or cats to keep the flees and ticks away, but never thought about using it for flying insects.

I'll have to get a mortar and pestle and grind some up and mix with lemon and see if it works.

Or I could just buy the stuff, but that's not as fun.
 
The active ingredient (65%) in the Repel Lemon Eucalyptus repellant is P-methane 3, 8-diol (AKA "PMD"). It occurs naturally in Eucalyptus citriodora, the Lemon-Scented Gum Tree, native to Oz.

I suppose if you had E. citriodora available to you in California, you could distill the chemical from the leaves. I don't recall lemon-scented eucalyptus in the orange grove wind-breaks, but thigns may have changed.

Repel synthesizes it.

"Fun"? :D
 
I use the stuff not sure the brand name but Dicks sells it that is Lemon Eucalyptus. I think it kicks ass. You have to refresh it after a time, but it works great. Makes you brow feel cool too.
 
I've been using it lately to good effect. I don't like to wear bug juice on my skin, so I just spray it on my clothes and the bugs stay away. I can hear the mosquitoes fly towards to my head area, but my hat that has been sprayed with it "Repels" them pretty good. I'll buy another bottle.
 
The EPA testing found it lasted 75% as long as deet products. I'll take that for something that doesn't melt plastic or penetrate my skin.
 
Do you think that Lemon Eucalyptus would attract bears,
weasel-family, raccoons, etc.

Bees, wasps, ants may be repelled or attracted?
 
Grampa, The folks at REI, Campmor, Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, and a few thousand other vendors seem to carry Repel Lemon Eucalyptus bug juice. Google is your friend. ;)

(edit to add) You can also buy essential oil of Lemon Eucalyptus from a lot of online vendors. From that you could create your own insect repellent.
 
hollowdweller said:
I use the stuff not sure the brand name but Dicks sells it that is Lemon Eucalyptus. I think it kicks ass. You have to refresh it after a time, but it works great. Makes you brow feel cool too.
Click to expand...

Good to know, I'll swing by Dicks this weekened and check it out.
 
It is also carried by Walmart.

Interesting question about attracting critters. I'll have to Google that.
 
RokJok said:
Grampa, The folks at REI, Campmor, Drugstore.com, Amazon.com, and a few thousand other vendors seem to carry Repel Lemon Eucalyptus bug juice. Google is your friend. ;)

(edit to add) You can also buy essential oil of Lemon Eucalyptus from a lot of online vendors. From that you could create your own insect repellent.
Click to expand...

Thanks - I'll have to look more closely!
 
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