Topic 8: Mothballs. Not just for humans

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/76115.stm
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Mothballs, not just for humans? what else then?

The situation:

Termites is the answer to the above question. They don't use mothballs, but they use naphthalene the active ingredient in mothball. They don't use them to prevent moths or beetle like we do from our clothes, instead they use it for its underground nest, to keep away their enemies ants, and nematode worms. Not sure where they got the ingredient from and why they were not affected by it themselves. Maybe, it is just NATURE. NATURE.

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Conclusion:

Humans are not just the only living thing knowing how to play with chemistry to produce things like naphthalene used in mothballs! termites do know have knowledge on chemistry too. (^.^)
High Exposure to these kind of volatile solid, may have some kind of health effect, dizziness, skin and eye irritation, confusion etc. So it its definitely not advisable to use a lot of mothballs together. Anyway it don't smell good. Does it? People would thought u got a mothball brand perfume. Other products to repel insects and moths are also available, for example the cedar blocks and also many other aromatic and non-toxic air freshening products can be used as substitute.


Mr Moo used to be an addicted to the smell of mothball. He managed to quit.
Mr Moo " Air fresheners produce much more fragrant smell, don't you agree? "