Re: natural repellents to stinging insects

**A*@aol.com**

I suspect that tobacco smoke contains enough nicotine, a very toxic alkaloid, 
to simply kill the little critters.  After all nicotine sulfate was a 
registered pesticide until a few years ago.  It has a low LD50, so one must 
be very careful around it.  I suspect that one could make an extract of 
tobacco leaves and paint it on mealybugs with desirable results.  It might 
not be as good as ethanol or methanol, but it if that is what is available it 
might be worth the effort.
Barbara
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