Mexican marigold as an insect deterrent

[hoodat]

I have several tall Mexican marigolds (tagetes erecta) planted in my vegetable garden as an experiment in deterring insects. None of the nearby plants ever seem to suffer from aphids or white fly. It is a bushy perrenial, up to 3 feet tall, and very attractive even when not in bloom. The slightest brush or even a breeze causes them to put out an odor that is reminiscent of lemon with a tinge of musk. It is often used in popouri. I'm not sure if the insects are repelled by it or if the odor just confuses them so they can't find what they are looking for. To top it off predators like parasitic wasps and syrphid flies like to feed on the blossoms and then go on to attack white fly and aphid on other plants all over the garden.
Has anyone else tried these?

 

[hoodat]

I just found out I misidentified what I had. The ones in my garden (shown in the pics) are tagetes limonii, the Copper Canyon daisy, not tagetes erecta, a very similar plant.
I have my local nursery hunting for tagetes erecta for me so I can compare the two.

 

[beavis]

hello fellow San Diego-er!

What is your local nursery that is tracking down the specific species of plant for you?

 

[vfem]

I use the french marigolds in the garden as pest deterents. I haven't tried the mexican as I was told its not the same effect?!

 

[hoodat]

hello fellow San Diego-er!

What is your local nursery that is tracking down the specific species of plant for you?

It's a pretty good drive from Ramona but I've always found Walter Anderson on Pacific HWY to be very helpful in trying to find plants I'm looking for. They also special ordered an eye hoe for me when I couldn't find one locally.