Often used as an additive for cat toys and treats due to its euphoric and hallucinogenic effects on cats, catnip has also long been known for its powerful repellent action on insects, mosquitoes in particular. Recent research shows catnip compounds to be at least as effective as synthetic insect repellents such as DEET.
catnip #mosquito #insectrepellent
N. Melo et al. The irritant receptor TRPA1 mediates the mosquito repellent effect of catnip. Current Biology. Published online March 4, 2021. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.02.010.
https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(21)00217-7