Catnip’s Effectiveness as a Natural Mosquito Repellent Linked to Irritant Receptor Activation.
While catnip is a common herb that is often used in cat toys and treats—due to its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects on our domesticated felines—it has also long been known for its powerful repellent action on insects, and mosquitoes in particular. An international team of scientists at Northwestern University and at Lund University has now identified a receptor that is responsible for the aversive effect that catnip and its nepetalactone ingredient, has on these insects. The studies, reported in Current Biology, showed that catnip and nepetalactone activate the insect TRPA1 receptor to trigger this aversion, but have no effect on the human TRPA1 receptor.

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