Research Title: “Effectiveness of Organic Mosquito Repellent (Lemon Grass) and commercial

Mosquito Repellent”

Question or Problem Being Addressed

Mosquito – borne diseases such as malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever, have plagued

civilization for thousands of years. There are various kinds of mosquitoes, each of which has a

different habitat, behaviour and preferred source of blood. About ten of these species are so

numerous and such vicious biters of man and animals, that an organized mosquito control is

necessary because mosquitoes are not only a nuisance as biting insects, but are also involved

periodically in transmitting disease to humans and animals. Gulrajani et al. (2007). Mosquitoes

or scientifically Aedes aegypti use exhaled carbon dioxide, body odours and temperature, and

movement to home in on their victims. Only female mosquitoes have the mouth parts

necessary for sucking blood. When biting with their proboscis, they stab two tubes into the

skin: one to inject an enzyme that inhibits blood clotting; the other to suck blood into their

bodies. They use the blood not for their own nourishment but as a source of protein for their

eggs. For food, both males and females eat nectar and other plant sugars. Liittschwager (2010)

(the researchers aim char2x)

According to an article of New Tech Bio, lemongrass is very popular and used for

medicinal and food purposes specifically in Asian cuisine and insect repellent products. It is

mainly found in tropical Asian countries such as India, Philippines, Malaysia and Myanmar.

Lemongrass or tanglad can be planted anywhere, and it is easy to grow and doesn’t need much

cultivation unlike other plants. Lemongrass contains citronella, a natural oil that repels

mosquitoes. Oil of citronella is an all-natural insect and animal repellent made from the distilled

oils of different varieties of grass, according to the National Pesticide Information Centre. The
main components in the oil are citronellal, citronellal and geranial. Although those components

may seem unpronounceable and thus a bit scary, citronella has actually been approved for use as

a food additive by the Food and Drug Administration and has been used in many foods and

drinks as a flavouring agent for more than 50 years. It has been labelled as a low risk pesticide by

the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Garlic can be used to repel a variety of crawling and flying insects, including

mosquitoes,” according to Parker (2002), SavATree Plant Health Care Program Director. One

treatment with garlic is effective for 2 weeks and can repel insects for up to one month.

Moreover, garlic is easy on the environment. Parker states, “It is a natural extract and does not

affect insects that are beneficial to suburban landscapes.”

Garlic bulbs contain an amino acid that converts to a substance called allicin when crushed,

blended or chopped. The characteristic odour released as a result of this process has powerful

properties. “When garlic extract is absorbed by a plant, biochemical changes take place in its

foliage which cause it to actively repel insects,” says Parker, “In short, plants are provided with a

long-lasting case of ‘garlic breathe’ that causes insects to move elsewhere.” However, the

treatment is odourless to humans within minutes of application.

Objectives of the Research

(lanatawa sa example pdf.)
Research Hypothesis
Null Hypothesis
There is no significant difference between the organic mosquito repellent and commercial
based mosquito repellent.
Alternative Hypotheses
The organic mosquito repellent repels more mosquitoes compared to the commercial
based mosquito repellent.
The commercial based mosquito repellent repels more mosquitoes compared to the
organic mosquito.