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posted by martyb on Wednesday March 13 2019, @10:22PM   Printer-friendly
from the debugging dept.

Phys.org:

Dozens of essential oils-based products on the market claim to kill or repel insects, but a previous Rutgers University study showed that few actually work against bed bugs. Gondhalekar and Gaire analyzed 15 essential oil compounds that are present in various aromatic plants for their toxicity to bed bugs and their ability to disrupt the insects' nervous system function. Their findings were published in the journal Scientific Reports.
...
All of the chemicals were effective when applied directly to the bed bugs, though the amount needed to kill them varied. Carvacrol, derived from oregano and thyme; thymol (thyme); citronellic acid (lemongrass); and eugenol (clove) were most effective.

When tested as fumigants, thymol, carvacrol, linalool (common in basil) and camphor (camphor tree) were most effective. Four of the compounds did not kill bed bugs over a 24-hour period.

It took about 70,000 times more of the most effective compound to kill a bed bug by contact than a control synthetic insecticide. With fumigants, this difference was only 400 times. That doesn't mean plant essential oil compounds are ineffective, Gondhalekar said. Now that toxicity levels are known, effective products can be formulated.

Hmm, using enough essential oil could kill bedbugs, but will you then stick to your furniture?


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  • (Score: 2) by stretch611 on Wednesday March 13 2019, @10:49PM (4 children)

    by stretch611 (6199) on Wednesday March 13 2019, @10:49PM (#813965)

    Hmm, using enough essential oil could kill bedbugs, but will you then stick to your furniture?

    Wouldn't oils make you slide? Think of how much easier it would be to just slide out of bed. =)

    And then the benefits of sliding in oil would also be great with a partner...

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 13 2019, @11:01PM (1 child)

    by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday March 13 2019, @11:01PM (#813969)

    And then the benefits of sliding in oil would also be great with a partner...

    A 5-foot tall anthropomorphic bed bug.

    • (Score: 3, Funny) by sjames on Thursday March 14 2019, @03:45AM

      by sjames (2882) on Thursday March 14 2019, @03:45AM (#814043) Journal

      Is that a lesser known sequel by Franz Kafka?

  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 14 2019, @12:26AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 14 2019, @12:26AM (#813988)

    And don't forget the fire hazard.

  • (Score: 2) by c0lo on Thursday March 14 2019, @01:27AM

    by c0lo (156) Subscriber Badge on Thursday March 14 2019, @01:27AM (#813999) Journal

    Except I am not sleeping directly on the furniture, you insensitive clod.

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