Uninvited guests: Traditional insect repellents in Estonia used against the clothes moth Tineola bisselliella, human flea Pulex irritans and bedbug Cimex lectularius
1Tartu University, Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, Department of Semiotics, Tiigi 78, Tartu, Estonia
2Estonian Literary Museum, Vanemuise 42,Tartu, Estonia
3Uppsala Centre for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Uppsala University, Box 514, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
Abstract
Extensive folklore records from pre-modern Estonia give us an excellent opportunity to study a variety of local plant knowledge and plant use among the peasantry in various parts of the country. One important biocultural domain where plant knowledge has been crucial was in the various methods of combating different ectoparasites that cohabited and coexisted with humans and their domestic animals. Some of these methods were widely known (world-wide, Eurasia, Europe, Baltic Rim), while others were more local. Here we discuss ways of reducing clothes moths Tineola bisselliella (Hummel) (Lepidoptera: Tineidae), human fleas Pulex irritans L. (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) and bedbugs Cimex lectularius L. (Hemiptera: Cimicidae) with the help of plants. Various taxa used as traditional repellents have been identified. The use of plants as repellents and their toxic principles are also discussed from a comparative perspective.
Keywords: ghuman-insect relations, ectoparasites, repellents, herbal landscape, biocultural domains, local knowledge, ethnobiology
Correspondence: arenata@folklore.ee, braivo@folklore.ee, cingvar.svanberg@ucrs.uu.se,
Received: 10 February 2010 | Accepted: 9 April 2010 | Published: 13 September 2010
Copyright: This is an open access paper. We use the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license that permits unrestricted use, provided that the paper is properly attributed.
ISSN: 1536-2442 | Volume 10, Number 150
Sõukand R, Kalle R, Svanberg I. 2010. Uninvited guests: Traditional insect repellents in Estonia used against the clothes moth Tineola bisselliella, human flea Pulex irritans and bedbug Cimex lectularius. Journal of Insect Science 10:150, available online: insectscience.org/10.150
 Figure 1 |
 Figures 2 |
 Figure 3 |
 Figure 4 |