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

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?

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.