Wall Street Journal highlights partnership between UC, P&G

Zevo includes sprays and indoor fly traps. The spray uses essential oils like cinnamon and lemongrass that target nerve receptors in insects, according to Zevo's website. The sticky trap lures flies and mosquitoes with an ultraviolet light that proved effective in UC's lab tests.

Benoit studies a myriad of disease vectors at UC, including ticks and mosquitoes.

Benoit said he has been helping P&G test its pest-control products for about three years at his Entomology Test Lab in Crosley Tower. They helped P&G improve the fly and mosquito traps. The tests are ongoing as P&G rolls out its commercial products this year to retailers nationwide.

"I don't endorse the products I test, but our studies showed they were effective," Benoit said. "We could get an 80 to 90 percent catch rate after six hours."

In return, Benoit said, P&G helped fund graduate research at UC.

"It's been a fruitful relationship. We helped them develop a better product and they supported some undergraduate interns here," Benoit said.