1 Abstract

Our studies focused on what type of herbs is effective in repelling common household pests. To
test this, we used 9 cockroaches as our test subjects and we put 3 cockroaches in every setup
we made. The following showed the set-up:

We used this setup to test the behaviour of the cockroaches and see if they would enter the
plastic container with herbs or the control. We found out that among the 3 herbs (Basil, curry
leaves and lemongrass) we used, Basil is the most effective and followed by curry leaves then
lemongrass.

2 Introduction
2.1 Research question
Which herb is most effective in repelling cockroaches?
2.2 Hypothesis
To test this question, we came up with the following hypothesis:
1. The stronger the smell of the herbs, the more effective the herb is in repelling
cockroaches.
2. Basil are most effective in repelling cockroaches among the 3 herbs we used.
2.3 Objective
Cockroaches and houseflies are common household pests that all of us see daily. Our group
had noticed that cockroaches and houseflies usually avoid herbs and spices when they came
across it so we wanted to test out if herbs are really effective in repelling pests and the
effectiveness of each herb. Unlike chemical deterrent, herbs can be a alternative way to deter
pests ecofriendly and will not harm humans as well as the pests so our experiment might serve
as a beginning of alternate research on natural and chemical-free repellent or behaviour of pest
when they came across herbs.

3 Project Qualifications

4 Experimentation
In order to test the ideas about the repelling effect of herbs , we will conduct an experiment with
cockroaches.
For our set of experiments, we chose this set-up design as it was easy to build, transparent and
the behaviours of the cockroaches can be easily observed using this setup to see its current
position. If the cockroaches are found in the control zone, this may prove that herbs are
effective. However, if the cockroaches are found in the tube that connected both control and
treated zone and the treated zone, it might be considered effective if the majority of the
cockroaches remain at the control zone or the tube. From the observation, we can determine the
effectiveness of the herb against cockroaches.

4.1 Materials

Plastic containers (clean and does not have food odours)

Plastic bottle (clean and does not contain sweet drinks but pure water previously. )
Duct tape
9 Alive adult cockroaches
Lemongrass
Basil
Curry leaves (freshly plucked from school)

4.2 Methodology
We tested our hypotheses with the following procedures:
I. Herb Preparations

We cut up the fresh herbs into small pieces and ready to be placed into the plastic
containers.

II. Plastic containers Preparation

3. Using a sharp tip of the scissors, we poked numerous small holes on the cover of the
containers so that air can enter and the cockroaches cannot escape.
4. At one side of the plastic container, we used a marker to draw a circle around the bottle
cap so that the neck and the finish of the bottle can fitted into the plastic container after
being cut with a penknife.

5. Cut the circle through the plastic containers gently and precisely with the penknife as the
plastic might crack and the cockroaches can escape.
6. Repeat steps 1, 2 and 3 on another plastic container.
7. Take a new plastic container and cut a insert on the side of the plastic container in which
it fits the width of the bottle as it is used to block the cockroaches from entering the
plastic containers when they are being transferred inside the setup.
8. Using the insert cut as reference, cut another duplicated one.
III. Plastic bottle (tube) Preparations
9. Unscrew the bottle cap from the bottle.
10.Cut a slit on the shoulder of the bottle so that the plastic insert can be inserted into the
slit.
11.Repeat step 1 and 2 on another bottle.
12.Cut the base of both bottle and tape the body together with a duct tape .
Setting-up:
Gently push the the each bottle's neck and finish through the hole in both plastic containers so
that it will not break.
Tape the neck of the bottle and the plastic container using the duct tape for extra secure. Do this
for both bottles.

5Results
Observations after 20 minutes into the experiment:
5.1 Set-up with lemongrass
(Intensity of smell: Not as strong)
There are 2 cockroaches in the control set-up and 1 in the box with lemongrass. The
cockroach in the treated set-up stayed there for a very long period of time since the
start of the experiment and there is one who stayed at the treated area for a short
while before returning back.
5.2 Set-up with curry leaves
(Intensity of smell: Strong)
There is 3 cockroaches in the control set-up and so far, none of them entered or
attempted to enter the treated set-up. Further observation after some time shows
that one of the cockroaches entered the treated set-up and stayed for a short while

before returning back.

5.3 Set-up with basil
(Intensity of smell: Strong)
There is 3 cockroaches in the control set-up and so far, none of them entered the
set-up but there is one who attempted to enter but as it went near, it suddenly turn
about and run back to control set-up.

Observations after 1 day into the experiment

5.1 Set-up with lemongrass
(Intensity of smell: a bit weak)
There are 2 cockroaches in the tube and that one cockroach is still in the box with
lemongrass.
5.2 Set-up with curry leaves
(Intensity of smell: Not as strong)
There is 1 cockroach spotted to enter the treated set-up and stayed for a few
minutes while before returning back to the control set-up where the other 2
cockroaches is at.
5.3 Set-up with basil
(Intensity of smell: Not as strong)
There is 3 cockroaches in the control set-up and so far, none of them entered the
set-up.

5.4 Results analysis

Lemongrass is not effective in repelling cockroaches. However, we feel that if the
lemongrass we brought have a stronger intensity of smell, it might be able to repel
cockroaches away. Whereas, basil and curry leaves can effectively repel
cockroaches away as in the curry leaves set-up, none of the cockroaches entered
the set-up with curry leaves. Also, in the basil set-up, 2 cockroaches remained in the
control set-up but one went near the treated set-up and ran back quickly maybe
due to the repelling effect of basil. In conclusion, it proved our hypotheses of that
the stronger the smell of the herb, the more effective it is in repelling cockroaches
and the basil is the most effective among all herbs we used in repelling
cockroaches.

6 Photograph

7 Discussions
Using the equation from [1],

We calculated the repellency of lemongrass, basil and curry leaves using the
results.
Calculation of the repellency of lemongrass after 20 minutes into the
experiment:
66.7%
Calculation of the repellency of lemongrass after a day into the experiment:
33.3%*
Calculation of the repellency of curry leaves after 20 minutes into the
experiment:
100%
Calculation of the repellency of curry leaves after a day into the experiment:
66.7% (3sf)
Calculation of the repellency of basil after 20 minutes into the experiment:
100%
Calculation of the repellency of basil after a day into the experiment:
100%
*We considered the cockroaches in the tube between control and treated setup as 0.5T. Thus, the repellency of the lemongrass is not the same as day 1
eventhough there is only 1 cockroach in the treated-set-up.
[1]

Repellent activity of essential oils against cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattidae, Blattellidae,

and Blaberidae) in Thailand

8 Difficulties faced before/during/after experiment

1. Getting the cockroaches
2. Transferring the cockroaches into the set-up
3. Where to place the set-up?
At home? NO.

At school? Chemistry lab? The toxic fume might kill it. Bio lab?
Physics lab? No
permission given. In classroom? Err, Ms
Yati will kill us. X.x Haiz
9 Reflections
Junyi (Group Leader):

Michaelia:

Sheng Cheng:

Javier:

Ismail:

10 Appendixes
[1]

Repellent activity of essential oils against cockroaches (Dictyoptera: Blattidae, Blattellidae,

and Blaberidae) in Thailand