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Written by Mariana Greene, McClatchy-Tribune
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Tuesday, 03 July 2007 |
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 A new mosquito-repelling device from a recent garden-writers conference looks like a plastic bracelet and looks too innocuous to be serious.
The plastic BugBand is impregnated with Geraniol, a substance derived from plants bred to produce the insect-repelling ingredient, says manufacturer EES Inc. The plant oil blocks the mosquito’s ability to hone in on the human scent; the plants are cultivated for production in Nepal and other countries in Southeast Asia.
The plant extract, says the company, is among those developed and tested for more than 17 years at the University of Florida.
It is reminiscent of the tick collars dogs wear; in fact, the BugBand also purports to repel ticks, flies, fleas, gnats and other insects.
 The product is supposed to be good for 120 hours of repelling, if stored in its tiny plastic case.
A similar wristband called Mosquito Freedom, contains the same patented formula made from Geraniol, but it comes from a company called Intermatic Malibu. Its label says it is waterproof and even can be worn swimming. It, too, has a 120-hour lifespan when properly stored.
The company also uses Geraniol in additional devices, including solar- and battery-powered inhibitors to place on a tabletop or hang overhead. For outdoor use only, the various models offer protection up to 100 square feet and are refillable.
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 What is Geraniol?
Savvy folks have been planting geraniums in their window boxes for centuries, using the natural properties of the flowers to repel bugs.
Today, the hard data exists that proves that the use of geraniums is more than a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Geraniol, a powerful ingredient extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process, does indeed provide a natural – and extremely effective – insect repellent.
Geraniol repels a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes, house flies, stable flies, horn flies, cockroaches, fire ants, fleas, gnats, dog ticks, lone star ticks.
Previous to the University of Florida work, there was no hard data or scientific studies to document what effect, if any, geranium oil had on any specific type of insect.
The everyday geranium plants we grow in our gardens contain geranium oil, although only at low levels. Geranium plants earmarked for commercial oil production have been bred and refined over the years, and are currently grown in Nepal and other Southeast Asian countries.
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WHERE TO BUY
The BugBand (about $5 each or $15 for four) can be purchased online at www.bugband.net. Also look for it at Bass Pro Shops and Target.
Mosquito Freedom products (about $3 for the wristband; $10 to $30 for inhibitors) are at Wal-Mart and Ace Hardware stores and online at
mosquitofreedom.com.
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What is DEET?
DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is the active ingredient in most insect repellents available in the United States that are applied to the skin. DEET was developed more than 50 years ago by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for use by our military. It was registered for use by the general public in 1957.
How much scientific information is available on DEET?
Experts agree and tests have proven, the most effective repellents on the market contain DEET and those without it do not provide the same protection from insect bites..
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What is west nile virus?
West Nile Virus is a strain of encephalitis, a serious, untreatable and sometimes deadly viral disease that can be carried by some mosquitoes. First found in the United States in 1999, West Nile Virus has been reported in 45 states including Colorado. Larimer County Health officials have confirmed West Nile Virus in mosquitoes trapped in Fort Collins and Loveland. Officials collected the mosquitoes June 19, which were the first to test positive in Colorado this year.
Symptoms of West Nile
West Nile symptoms usually appear between five and 15 days after a bite from an infected mosquito. Symptoms may include: severe headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, disorientation, chills, muscle aches, pain, stiffness. If you experience any of these symptoms seek medical attention.
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it doesnt work
Written by BriansBLog on 2007-07-04 18:32:20
Consumer Reports tested this band, along with deet, and all the herbal products. In a controlled study, this band was rated "the equivelant of using nothing", in other words, it doesnt work. |
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