Cayenne Pepper Insect Repellent Capsaicin, the active ingredient in cayenne pepper, is a lethal metabolic stimulant for many soft-bodied insects, but doesn't harm most beneficial insects. Formulated with food-grade paraffin wax. Sticks to insects and to plant foliage, killing aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, thrips, scale, leafminers, and hoppers within 24 hours of contact and repelling them for up to 21 days. Also an anti-transpirant and protects plants from summer desiccation.Does not affect the plant's internal flavor, because it is not absorbed, and any material left on the outside can be easily washed off w/warm water so it can be used on the day of harvest. This product is registered on vegetables and citrus. Apply with a sprayer (not through irrigation systems) at a rate of 3 gal of Hot Pepper Wax concentrate/100 gal water/acre. For 1,000 sq ft, mix w/water at a 8 tablespoons/gallon ratio and apply a maximum of 3 gal of solution per 1,000 sq ft. Repeat, if necessary, once a week for 2-3 weeks. Contains 0.00018% Capsaicin, and other Capsaicinoids.