This article just came out in the Journal of Economic Entomology, Dec 09:
Ability of Two Natural Products, Nootkatone and Carvacrol, to Suppress Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) in a Lyme Disease Endemic Area of New Jersey
Nootkatone is an essential oil obtained from Alaskan yellow cedar.
Carvacrol is an essential oil derived from several sources: oregano, thyme, pepperwort (mustard family) and wild bergamot (mint family).
The article also says carvacrol can be created synthetically.
The article states they got best results with 2% nootkatone applications on the forest litter layer, with 96-100% suppression of nymphs of both species for 42 days! Sounds good!
They will obviously keep experimenting to find the easiest and most effective ways to apply these remedies.
I have long thought that we need to use essential oils or a safe equivalent to treat the land so we don't have to deal with the ticks!
Posted by Keebler (Member # 12673) on :
- Maybe planting more plants with these essentials oils will help, too.
We could reforest, so to speak with fragrant plants that had a real purpose. We don't have to wait for labs to manufacture.
I can see this taking off. All these being planted in our yards - and then by scouts, hikers, etc. . . . Exciting to consider.
The NEEM tree has been used in this manner against certain pests for centuries. Wonder how that might affect ticks. -
Posted by Vermont_Lymie (Member # 9780) on :
Would like to spray nootkatone from an airplane over the entire northeast -- several times each season, say after 42 days! Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
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