Study summary
Bioactivity of cedarwood oil and cedrol against arthropod pests
Eller FJ, Vander Meer RK, Behle RW, Flor-Weiler LB, Palmquist DE
- Study type
- Lab
- Year
- 2014
- Published in
- Environmental Entomology 43(3):762-766
- Evidence strength
- Limited evidence
Summary
Bioassays of CO2-extracted cedarwood oil from Juniperus virginiana for ant repellency and of its component cedrol for toxicity to black-legged tick (Ixodes scapularis) nymphs.
Key findings
Cedarwood oil significantly repelled red imported fire ants, and cedrol was toxic to tick nymphs in a dose-dependent way (100% mortality at 6.3 mg/ml). Activity is mainly contact toxicity/repellency to ticks and ants rather than mosquito-bite protection.
Limitations
No human skin-application mosquito data; effects are species-specific (ants/ticks); laboratory dosages.