University-Developed Products Use Geraniol To Effectively Repel Pests
CARTERSVILLE, GA (January 9, 2007) — Golfers know all too well the buzzing, biting insects that seem to target their bare skin and clothing the second they step onto the course. Now there’s a DEET-free insect repellent that allows golfers to concentrate less on swatting bugs and more on hitting long drives.
BugBand insect repellent products provide protection from biting insects while avoiding the risk associated with irritating pesticides. It is safe for children and pets, and can be used around food. BugBand also doesn’t eat away at golf club grips like solvent-based repellents can.
BugBand is not only a safer and equipment-friendly choice; in many cases, it’s more effective. Geraniol, the plant-based active ingredient in BugBand, has been proven to do a better job of repelling insects than DEET. According to laboratory and field studies by the University of Florida, Geraniol is not only more effective than 10-percent DEET, musk oil and 10-percent citronella, it repels a much broader range of insects. Geraniol has been proven effective in repelling mosquitoes, house flies, fleas, stable flies, horn flies, head lice, cockroaches, fire ants, gnats, dog ticks, lone star ticks, and no-see-ums, as well as other flying and blood-feeding insects.
The pleasant-scented Geraniol insect repellent vapors create an invisible shield to repel bugs. "With the growing risk of West Nile Virus and Lyme Disease, going without protection when you’re outside simply isn’t an option," says BugBand president Dan Ritter. "The fact that Geraniol is both safer and more effective than harsh insect repellents makes it an alternative that golfers of all ages can feel good about."
Geraniol, a powerful ingredient extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process, provides a natural – and extremely effective – insect repellent. Cartersville, GA-based EES, Inc. (Effective Environmental Solutions), licensed the technology from the University of Florida, Gainesville, which developed and tested the alternative to chemicals over a 17-year period. The company now distributes the insect repellent in several forms, including BugBand wristbands, pump spray, and towelettes, as well as several commercial applications.
BugBand insect repellent is made in the USA and is available online at www.bugband.net, and at department, grocery and drug stores across the country, including Bed, Bath and Beyond; Bass Pro Shops; and Sportsman’s Warehouse. For more information or to order online, visit www.bugband.net.
What is Geraniol?
For years, people have planted geraniums on their porches or in window boxes, believing that the flowers helped deter mosquitoes. Today, scientific data supports that belief. Geraniol (geranium oil), a natural oil derived from geranium plants, has been proven to be the most effective means of repelling blood-feeding insects. The everyday geranium plants we grow in our gardens and flowerpots contain geranium oil, although only at low levels. Geranium plants earmarked for commercial oil production have been bred and refined over the years, and are currently grown in Nepal and other Southeast Asian countries.
BUGBAND PRODUCTS
Wristbands: The vapors from the plastic BugBand wristband form a protective shield 15 feet around the immediate area, keeping insects a safe distance away. While many repellents are easily diluted or rinsed off with swimming or perspiration, the wristband just keeps working, up to 120 hours. It’s packaged in an innovative reusable plastic "pod" which can be used to store the wristband and sealed between uses to preserve the active life of the product. The plastic band is designed with a patented break-away strap that snaps if it becomes entangled. It can also be worn on belt loops, hatbands, fastened in tents, attached to baby carriages or applied to other areas where insects could be a problem. The BugBand wristband comes in multiple colors, including dark green, light green, blue, yellow, red, pink, and glow-in-the-dark. It has a suggested retail price of $4.95, and is available at retailers including Bed, Bath and Beyond and Bass Pro Shops, and online at www.bugband.net. A family pack is also available that offers four bands — each in its own "pod" — for the price of three, $14.95.
Pump Spray: BugBand spray lotion does not contain any propellants, but relies on a highly effective metered pump sprayer to dispense a fine mist over the area to be treated. By spraying the BugBand liquid directly on clothing or skin, the Geraniol vapors form a protective barrier to deter blood-sucking insects from biting. It is ideal for uses around the ankles, wrist or neck, where insects tend to invade clothing. Use once for hours of insect protection. The 6-ounce BugBand pump spray has a suggested retail price of $6.95, and is available at area retailers, and online at www.bugband.net.
Towelettes: The BugBand towelette is a very handy, easy-to-use method of applying Geraniol insect repellent. The 8-by-8-inch pretreated towelettes are available in 15- or 40-count containers. Easy to use, safe and effective, the towelettes allow for exact application of Geraniol lotion on exposed skin. They’re ideal for using around your face or neck without worrying about over-applying. The BugBand 15-count towelette dispenser has a suggested retail price of $5.95 (40-count: $11.95), and is available at retailers including many Walgreens locations and Sportsman’s Warehouse, and online at www.bugband.net. BugBand towelettes are also available in a foil two-pack for $.99. The towelettes can be folded and stored in the foil container for future use.
BugBand Geraniol repellent is also available in commercial applications, including spray-a-jell, bead bags, dumpster deodorant, playground/grounds granular insect repellent, and livestock bedding treatment. For more information, visit www.bugband.net or call 1-800-473-9467.
Contact:
Brian Bellmont
Bellmont Partners Public Relations
(952) 233-0428
brian@bellmontpartners.com
