PURPOSE: To obtain a repellent for insect pests showing extremely excellent repelling effects on Thrips palmi kany, an insect pest for the crops to be most difficult to control, containing a thiazole as an active ingredient.

CONSTITUTION: A repellent for insect pests which contains at least one thiazole shown by the formula (R1 and R2 are H or alkyl; R3 is H, alkyl or lower alkenyl) as an active ingredient and shows excellent effects on Thrips palmi kany on which no well-known method has shown controlling effects. As the method to use the repellent, smell (odor) of the repellent may float in a zone for the crops to be protected from Thrips palmi kany and, for example, scattering or application to a sheet base material may be used.