Yeah.  I know what you are thinking ... its in the wrong thread; it should be in one on cooking (and yes, I do occasionally cook with it).

Until this afternoon, I would have agreed with you.  However, today I was in a big box store looking for an organic insecticide (got some pesky spider mites I need to get rid of).  As I was going through each label, I picked up one and began reading the contents:

Canola Oil ... 95%
Other        ... 5%

CANOLA OIL?  Are you kidding? 

After getting back home, I googled it.  Turns out that lots of insects don't like oil, especially canola oil.  They apparently don't like it on their mouth parts.  After looking further, I found that canola oil is one recommendation for repelling black flies and stable flies. 

Anyone have any experience with this?  Does it work?  Any downside other than oiliness?

dd

I bet the bears would like you a lot!

Spider mites? Inside or outside? Depending on the plant you can just blast some with a hose and use soapy water on the rest??? We're talking plant right?

Oh yeah, and how long before you smell rancid?

DD, Neem oil would be a good choice.

Remember the days when suntan lotion was for helping you tan, not protecting you from a tan.  I suspect oil on a sunny day would help with that George Hamilton look.