| Summary: | Repellents act by stimulating the primary or secondary defensemechanisms, causing the food to be rejected. Mature and healthy houserats, Rattus rattus, of both the sexes, were exposed to 5, 10, and 20%citronella oil applied as paint in laboratory pens in choice with no oil.Each concentration was applied through 3 different modes of application(daily, once and alternatively in a week). Repellent effect of oil wasassessed by comparing food consumption from treatedsides with those of untreated sides. The food consumption was recorded over a period of4 days. In overall, food consumption was significantly (p≤ 0.05) lowerfrom treatmentside compared to the untreated side indicating significantrepellent effect of the oil. Repellent effect of oil, however, did not differsignificantly between the two sexes. Significant difference in averagepercent repellent effect between 5 and 10% concentrations was observedwhen oil was applied daily in both female and male rats with highereffect of treatment at 10%. The studies revealed higher potential of dailyapplication of citronella oil as paint in repelling away rats of both sexes.
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