Natural Tick Repellents and Pesticides
Overview
Although tick repellents and pesticides for use on skin, clothing, or in the yard are considered safe and effective when used as directed, many people are reluctant to use them. In order to provide other options, scientists have been developing all-natural chemical compounds made from plants that can repel or kill ticks. Scientists have also studied the use of fungi to kill ticks. Many natural products that come from plants or fungi and repel or kill ticks are described below.
EPA Registration
Before insect repellents can be sold to the public, most must be registered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA registration means that a product has been evaluated and approved as safe and effective for people to use on their skin when applied according to label instructions. Any EPA-registered product will have an EPA Registration Number on the product label (for example, 123456-1).
Some insect repellent products for sale in the United States do not currently require EPA registration. In the 1990s, EPA evaluated the active ingredients in these unregistered products for safety (but not effectiveness). EPA determined that these all natural plant oils (like peppermint, thyme, eucalyptus, garlic, etc.) used in insect repellent products were safe for people and posed minimal risk to human health. EPA determined that products made from these all-natural ingredients do not require registration. Note that products made from these ingredients have not been evaluated by EPA for effectiveness.
For more information, see EPA’s Regulation of Skin-Applied Repellents
Natural Compound-based Products that Repel or Kill Ticks
Active ingredient: 2-undecanone
EPA-registered: Yes
Natural source: Essential oil from leaves and stems of the wild tomato plant, Lycopersicon hirsutum
Repels: Ticks (including the blacklegged tick and the lone star tick)
For use on: Skin, clothing, gear
Commercially available: Yes
References:
- Bissinger, B.W., C.S. Apperson, D.W. Watson, C. Arellano, D.E. Sonenshine, and R.M. Roe. 2011. Novel field assays and the comparative repellency of BioUD, DEET, and permethrin against Amblyomma americanum. Med. Vet. Entomol. 25:217-226.
- Bissinger, B.W., C.S. Apperson, D.E. Sonenshine, D.W. Watson, and R.M. Roe. 2009. Efficacy of the new repellent BioUD against three species of ixodid ticks. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 48:239-250.
Active ingredient: Garlic Oil
EPA-registered: Exempt
Natural source: Essential oil from garlic plants
Repels: Ticks (blacklegged tick)
For use on: Lawns and gardens
Commercially available: Yes
Reference:
- Bharadwaj, A., L.E. Hayes, and K.C., III, Stafford. 2015. Effectiveness of garlic for the control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) on residential properties in western Connecticut. J. Med. Entomol. 52:722-725.
Active ingredient: Mixed Essential Oils (rosemary, lemongrass, cedar, peppermint, thyme, and geraniol)
EPA-registered: Exempt
Natural source: Essential oils from rosemary, lemongrass, thyme, and geraniol plants
Repels: Ticks (blacklegged tick)
For use on: For use on skin, lawns, and gardens
Commercially available: Yes
References:
- Elias, S.P., C.B. Lubelczyk, P.W. Rand, J.K. Staples, T.W., ST. Amand, C.S. Stubbs, E.H. Lacombe, L.B. Smith, and R.P. Smith, Jr. 2013. Effect of a botanical acaricide on Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) and nontarget arthropods. J. Med. Entomol. 50:126-136.
- Jordan, R.A., M.C. Dolan, J. Piesman, and T.L. Schulze. 2011. Suppression of host-seeking Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs after dual applications of plant-derived acaricides in New Jersey. J. Econ. Entomol. 104:659-664.
- Jordan, R.A., T.L. Schulze, and M.C. Dolan. 2012. Efficacy of plant-derived and synthetic compounds on clothing as repellents against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 49:101-106.
- Rand, P.W., E.H. Lacombe, S.P. Elias, C.B. Lubelczyk, T.W., ST. Amand, and R.P. Smith, Jr. 2010. Trial of a minimal-risk botanical compound to control the vector tick of Lyme disease. J. Med. Entomol. 47:695-698.
Active ingredient: Nootkatone
EPA-registered: EPA registration filed and under review
Natural source: Essential oils from Alaska yellow cedar trees, some herbs, and citrus fruits
Kills and repels: Ticks (blacklegged tick) and other arthropods
For use on: For use on skin, lawns, and gardens
Commercially available: No
References:
- Panella, N.A., M.C. Dolan, J.J. Karchesy, Y. Xiong, J. Peralta-Cruz, M. Khasawneh, J.A. Montenieri, and G.O. Maupin. 2005. Use of novel compounds for pest control: insecticidal and acaricidal activity of essential oil components from heartwood of Alaska yellow cedar. J. Med. Entomol. 42:352-358.
- Dietrich, G., M.C. Dolan, J. Peralta-Cruz, J. Schmidt, J. Piesman, R.J. Eisen, and J.J. Karchesy. 2006. Repellent activity of fractioned compounds from Alaska yellow cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) essential oil against nymphal Ixodes scapularis. J. Med. Entomol. 43:957-961.
- Dolan, M.C., G.B. Dietrich, N.A. Panella, J.A. Montenieri, and J.J. Karchesy. 2007. Biocidal activity of three essential wood oils against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae), Xenopsylla cheopis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae), and Aedes, aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 100:622-625.
- Dolan, M.C., R.A. Jordan, T.L. Schulze, C.J. Schulze, M. Manning, D. Ruffalo, J.P. Schmidt, J. Piesman, and J.J. Karchesy. 2009. 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. J. Econ. Entomol. 102:2316-2324.
- Jordan, R.A., M.C. Dolan, J. Piesman, and T.L. Schulze. 2011. Suppression of host-seeking Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs after dual applications of plant-derived acaricides in New Jersey. J. Econ. Entomol. 104:659-664.
- Schulze, T.L., R.A. Jordan, and M.C. Dolan. 2011. Experimental use of two standard tick collection methods to evaluate the relative effectiveness of several plant-derived and synthetic repellents against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 104:2062-2067.
- Dolan, M.C., and N.A. Panella. Research and development of all natural, plant-derived insecticides, pesticides, and repellents for the control of disease-vectoring arthropods of public health importance. 2011. ACS Books. Recent Developments in Invertebrate and Vertebrate Repellents. ACS Books. Eds G. Paluch and J Coats.
- Jordan, R.A., T.L. Schulze, and M.C. Dolan. 2012. Efficacy of plant-derived and synthetic compounds on clothing as repellents against Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 49:101-106.
Biological Agent-based Products that Repel or Kill Ticks
Active ingredient: Fungus (Metarhizium brunneum/anisopliae)
EPA-registered: Yes
Natural source: These fungi grow naturally in soils throughout the world
Kills: Ticks (blacklegged tick), thrips, whiteflies, mites, and weevils
For use on: For use on lawns and gardens
Commercially available: Yes
References:
- Hornbostel, V.L., R.S. Ostfeld, and M.A. Benjamin. 2005. Effectiveness of Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycetes) against Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) engorging on Peromyscus leucopus. J. Vector. Ecol. 30:91-101.
- Hornbostel, V.L., E. Zhioua, M.A. Benjamin, H.S. Ginsberg, and R.S. Ostfeld. 2005. Pathogenicity of Metarhizium anisopliae (Deuteromycetes) and permethrin to Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs. Exp. Appl. Acarol. 35:301-316.
- Bharadwaj, A. and K.C., III, Stafford. 2010. Evaluation of Metarhizium anisopliae strain F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) for control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 47:862-867.
- Stafford, K.C.,III, and S.A. Allan. 2010. Field applications of entomopathogenic fungi Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae F52 (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) for the control of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae). J. Med. Entomol. 47:1107-1115.
- Page last reviewed: August 14, 2015
- Page last updated: March 14, 2016
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