Ticks are a common problem for anyone who spends time outdoors. After hiking, gardening, or mowing, many instinctively check for ticks. These tiny parasites can carry dangerous diseases like Lyme and anaplasmosis.
Most people use DEET to repel ticks and other biting insects. But DEET can feel sticky, smell unpleasant, and raise safety concerns. Many want a natural alternative that still works well. Lemongrass has shown promise as a natural repellent. Now, researchers have found another option—this time from donkey skin.
A new study shows how a compound called (E)-2-octenal, secreted by donkey skin, repels deer ticks. The research was published in PLOS One and conducted by researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Deer ticks, also known as Ixodes scapularis, are the main tick that bites humans in the U.S. (E)-2-octenal stops ticks from moving toward treated areas. It was even more effective than DEET in some cases.
