Nepeta cataria L.
EOL Text
Catnip is well known to be of great interest to many domestic cats, although the compounds arousing cats presumably evolved as deterrents against insect herbivores (Eisner 1964) and interactions between catnip and cats are presumably not of ecological or evolutionary significance. Tucker and Tucker (1988) reviewed the effects of catnip on cats. They noted that cats respond to catnip with predictable behaviors, including (1) sniffing, (2) licking and chewing with head shaking, (3) chin and cheek rubbing, and (4) head-over rolling and body rubbing. They may also exhibit digging or pawing, scratching, salivating, washing or grooming. stretching, animated leaping, licking of the genital region, apparent hallucinations, sexual stimulation, euphoria, sleepiness, and/or eating. The complete response rarely exceeds 10 to 15 minutes and is followed by a refractory period of about an hour during which catnip does not elicit a behavioral response. Interestingly, no response to catnip is evident in kittens during the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth, and this response may not develop until 3 months of age. (Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
Not all domestic cats respond to catnip. Based on a study using a documented pedigree of Siamese cats and a random sample of 84 cats from the Boston area, Todd (1962) concluded that the catnip response is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene. Investigations of a variety of mammals have revealed no catnip response in non-felids tested, but within the Felidae (cat family) many (though apparently not all) wild cat species, both males and females, exhibit a catnip response (for details, see Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
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| Rights holder/Author | Shapiro, Leo, Shapiro, Leo, EOL Rapid Response Team |
| Source | http://eolspecies.lifedesks.org/pages/22705 |
Nepeta cataria (Catnip) introduced
(Bees usually suck nectar and less often collect pollen; other insects suck nectar; some observations are from Reed as indicated below, otherwise they are from Robertson)
Bees (long-tongued)
Apidae (Apinae): Apis mellifera sn fq (Rb, Re); Apidae (Bombini): Bombus affinis (Re), Bombus auricomus sn, Bombus bimaculatus sn (Rb, Re), Bombus griseocallis sn fq, Bombus impatiens sn fq (Rb, Re), Bombus pensylvanica sn fq, Bombus vagans sn cp fq; Anthophoridae (Ceratinini): Ceratina sp. (Re); Anthophoridae (Epeolini): Epeolus bifasciatus sn, Triepeolus concavus sn, Triepeolus lunatus concolor sn fq, Triepeolus remigatus sn; Anthophoridae (Eucerini): Melissodes bimaculata bimaculata sn fq, Melissodes communis sn, Svastra obliqua obliqua sn; Anthophoridae (Nomadini): Nomada articulata sn; Megachilidae (Coelioxini): Coelioxys octodentata, Coelioxys sayi; Megachilidae (Megachilini): Megachile brevis brevis sn fq, Megachile campanulae campanulae sn, Megachile centuncularis sn, Megachile latimanus (Re), Megachile mendica sn, Megachile petulans sn, Megachile pugnatus sn, Megachile rugifrons sn fq, Megachile texana sn; Megachilidae (Osmiini): Hoplitis pilosifrons sn; Megachilidae (Trypetini): Heriades carinatum (Re), Heriades leavitti sn
Bees (short-tongued)
Halictidae (Dufoureinae): Dufourea monardae (Re); Halictidae (Halictinae): Agapostemon sericea sn fq, Agapostemon virescens sn, Augochloropsis metallica metallica (Re), Halictus confusus sn, Halictus ligatus sn, Halictus parallelus sn, Halictus rubicunda sn fq, Lasioglossum imitatus cp (Rb, Re), Lasioglossum pilosus pilosus sn, Lasioglossum rohweri (Re), Lasioglossum tegularis (Re), Lasioglossum versatus sn cp fq; Colletidae (Hylaeinae): Hylaeus modestus (Re); Andrenidae (Panurginae): Calliopsis andreniformis sn
Wasps
Sphecidae (Sphecinae): Ammophila kennedyi, Ammophila nigricans, Ammophila pictipennis, Ammophila procera, Eremnophila aureonotata, Prionyx atrata; Tiphiidae: Myzinum quinquecincta; Vespidae: Polistes dorsalis; Vespidae (Eumeninae): Euodynerus foraminatus (Rb, Re), Parancistrocerus fulvipes, Stenodynerus anormis
Flies
Syrphidae: Allograpta obliqua (Re), Eristalis tenax, Helophilus latifrons, Rhingia nasica, Sphaerophoria contiqua, Syritta pipiens (Rb, Re), Toxomerus marginatus (Re); Bombyliidae: Chrysanthrax cypris, Rhynchanthrax parvicornis; Tachinidae: Archytas analis, Archytas aterrima, Cylindromyia fumipennis, Linnaemya comta
Butterflies
Nymphalidae: Phyciodes tharos, Speyeria cybele, Vanessa atalanta, Vanessa virginiensis; Pieridae: Colias philodice, Pieris rapae, Pontia protodice fq
Skippers
Hesperiidae: Epargyreus clarus, Erynnis juvenalis, Erynnis martialis, Pholisora catullus
Beetles
Cantharidae: Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus (Re)
Plant Bugs
Lygaeidae: Lygaeus turcicus
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2015 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/flower_insects//plants/catnip.htm |
These species are introduced in Switzerland.
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| Rights holder/Author | Synonymie-Index der Schweizer Flora, Name It's Source |
| Source | No source database. |
Foodplant / feeds on
larva of Meligethes incanus feeds on Nepeta cataria
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / parasite
Neoerysiphe galeopsidis parasitises live Nepeta cataria
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| Rights holder/Author | BioImages, BioImages - the Virtual Fieldguide (UK) |
| Source | http://www.bioimages.org.uk/html/Nepeta_cataria.htm |
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a perennial mint, native to Eurasia, but widely naturalized in North America, southeastern Australia, and possibly elsewhere. It is often found growing in disturbed areas. The foliage has a minty odor that is often considered mildly unpleasant by humans, but is very attractive to many cats. The flowers are whitish or pale lilac, dotted with pink or purple; the lower lip is slightly toothed.
The physiologically active component of catnip oil is a now well-characterized compound known as nepetalactone. Cats respond to catnip with predictable behaviors, including (1) sniffing, (2) licking and chewing with head shaking, (3) chin and cheek rubbing, and (4) head-over rolling and body rubbing. The complete response rarely exceeds 10 to 15 minutes and is followed by a refractory period of about an hour during which catnip does not elicit a behavioral response. Interestingly, no response to catnip is evident in kittens during the first 6 to 8 weeks after birth, and this response may not develop until 3 months of age. (Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
Not all domestic cats respond to catnip. Based on a study using a documented pedigree of Siamese cats and a random sample of 84 cats from the Boston area, Todd (1962) concluded that the catnip response is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene. Investigations of a variety of mammals have revealed no catnip response in non-felids tested, but within the Felidae (cat family) many (though apparently not all) wild cat species, both males and females, exhibit a catnip response (for details, see Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein).
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Shapiro, Leo, Shapiro, Leo, EOL Rapid Response Team |
| Source | http://eolspecies.lifedesks.org/pages/22705 |
Chemical repels insects: catnip
The chemical defense system of catnip may repel insects with the chemical nepetalactone.
"Anisomorphal [a chemical named for insect, Anisomorpha, a walking-stick that uses it as a defensive spray] bore a chemical resemblance to, of all things, catnip. Formally known as nepetalactone, and produced by a plant of the mint family (Nepeta cataria), catnip derived its reputation from its peculiar ability to excite cats. That property, surely, had nothing to do with whatever the compound did for the plant that produced it. It occurred to me that I was now in a position to propose a natural function for nepetalactone. Could the compound not be defensive like anisomorphal, and serve to protect the plant itself? I got some pure nepetalactone from Jerry--by coincidence it was he who had determined the structure of the compound--and did some simple tests, in which I showed the chemical to be a potent insect repellent. I found that insects would quickly fly off or walk away if I pointed at them a capillary tube filled with nepetalactone, and that ants would shy away from insect baits that I had laced with the compound. It was clear that plant and insect had hit upon a common defensive strategy here, in the sense that they had both evolved the capacity to produce similar substances for a similar purpose…Interestingly, anisomorphal is now known also to be produced by a plant. Not surprisingly, that plant, cat thyme (Teucrium marum), is also a member of the mint family (Labiatae). And nepetalactone itself has been shown to be produced by a species of walking-stick." (Eisner 2003:89-91)
Learn more about this functional adaptation.
- Eisner, T. 2005. For Love Of Insects. Cambridge, MA: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 448 p.
- Zhu JJ: Zeng X-P; Berkebile D; Du H-J; Tong Y; Qian K. 2009. Efficacy and safety of catnip (Nepeta cataria) as a novel filth fly repellent. Medical and Veterinary Entomology. 23: 209-216.
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| Rights holder/Author | (c) 2008-2009 The Biomimicry Institute |
| Source | http://www.asknature.org/strategy/4499e8e36fb1c666bf5d983060fead24 |
The non-native Catnip is a common plant in central and northern Illinois, but uncommon or absent in many areas of southern Illinois (see Distribution Map). Habitats include limestone barrens on bluffs, open woodlands, weedy meadows, pastures, fence rows, gravelly areas along railroads, and miscellaneous waste areas. Sometimes this plant is cultivated in herbal gardens. It is usually found in disturbed areas, but occasionally invades natural areas where limestone is close to the soil surface. This species was introduced into North America from Eurasia. Faunal Associations
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| Rights holder/Author | Copyright © 2002-2014 by Dr. John Hilty |
| Source | http://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/catnip.htm |
The physiologically active component of catnip oil is a now well-characterized compound known as nepetalactone (for details, see Tucker and Tucker 1988 and references therein). Tucker and Tucker (1988) discuss what is known about the chemistry of a range of other plants and insects that have reported to be attractive to cats.
Catnip is well known to be of great interest to many domestic cats, although the compounds arousing cats presumably evolved as deterrents against insect herbivores
| License | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/ |
| Rights holder/Author | Shapiro, Leo, Shapiro, Leo, EOL Rapid Response Team |
| Source | http://eolspecies.lifedesks.org/pages/22705 |
Canada
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
United States
Origin: Exotic
Regularity: Regularly occurring
Currently: Unknown/Undetermined
Confidence: Confident
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| Rights holder/Author | NatureServe |
| Source | http://explorer.natureserve.org/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Nepeta+cataria |
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this species.