Oils as a mosquito repellant

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Updated: April 17, 2002

What are Oils?

Oils, like films, are pesticides used to form a coating on top of water to drown larvae, pupae, and emerging adult mosquitoes. They are specially derived from petroleum distillates and have been used for many years in the United States to kill aphids on crops and orchard trees, and to control mosquitoes. They may be used along with other mosquito control measures in an IPM program. Trade names for oils used in mosquito control are Bonide, BVA2, and Golden Bear-1111, (GB-1111).

Do Oils Pose Risks to Human Health?

Oils, used according to label directions for larva and pupa control, do not pose a risk to human health. In addition to low toxicity, there is little opportunity for human exposure, since the material is applied directly to ditches, ponds, marshes, or flooded areas that are not drinking water sources.

Do Oils Pose Risks to Wildlife or the Environment?

Oils, if misapplied, may be toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. For that reason, EPA has established specific precautions on the label to reduce such risks.

More information:

For more information about mosquito control in your area, contact your state or local health department. Other resources for information on public health, disease control, and mosquito control include the following:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Tel: 970-221-6400
Fax: 970-221-6476
E-mail: dvbid@cdc.gov
Web site: cdc.gov

National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
Tel: 1-800-858-7378
E-mail: npic@ace.orst.edu
Web site: http://npic.orst.edu/

West Nile Virus Resource Guide: http://npic.orst.edu/wnv/
American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA)
Joseph M. Conlon, Technical Advisor
Tel/Fax: (904) 215-3008
E-mail: amca@earthlink.com