ABSTRACT
Mankind and mosquitoes must have lived in close association since our ancestors first evolved. The deadly diseases carried by these insects and the annoyance they cause is likely to have encouraged the discovery of methods of personal protection. The use of plant substances to protect us from insects probably developed early, but there is no archaeological evidence of this. However, Capuchin monkeys have been observed rubbing the millipede Orthoporus dorsovittatus onto their coat during the period of maximum mosquito activity (Valderrama et al., 2000). This species contains chemicals called benzoquinones that have known repellent activity.
