naphthalene

Solid, white, shiny, aromatic hydrocarbon obtained from coal tar. The smell of moth balls is due to their naphthalene content. It is used in making indigo and certain azo dyes, as a mild disinfectant, and as a pesticide.

In nature, naphthalene is also found in termite nests where the termites use it to deter enemies such as fire ants and as a fungicide. Significant amounts of naphthalene were identified in termite nests by US researchers in 1998, though where it comes from is still to be determined.