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Study: Mosquitoes Can Learn to Like DEET
Researchers found more than 60% of trained Aedes aegypti mosquitoes later approached DEET alone, suggesting repellent responses can change with experience.
- Researchers published a study in the Journal of Experimental Biology revealing that yellow fever mosquitoes can learn to associate the insect repellent DEET with food, potentially undermining its effectiveness.
- Using a form of Pavlovian conditioning, scientists trained mosquitoes by pairing the scent of DEET with warm blood, effectively reversing the insects' natural aversion to the chemical.
- In experiments, more than 60% of trained mosquitoes returned to a feeder expecting a meal when exposed to DEET alone, compared to only 17% of untrained insects.
- Despite these findings, DEET remains the 'gold standard' for protection, and experts advise users to follow product labels and reapply regularly to maintain effective concentrations.
- Researchers hope this understanding of mosquito behavior will help design novel repellents to complement DEET, as diversifying control strategies is critical for preventing mosquito-borne disease spread.
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39 Articles
39 Articles
Mosquitoes can learn to associate DEET-Geruch with blood meal – and are even attracted by the Repellent. What this means for protection.
The defence agent DEET is considered an effective protection against insects. A new study shows, however, that yellow fever mosquitoes can apparently link the smell of the remedy with food.
·Berlin, Germany
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Mosquito season is about to begin in Estonia, and thousands of people outdoors will be reaching for insect repellent. However, a recent lab experiment by French scientists shows that if repellent is used incompletely and incorrectly, insects may start to associate the repellent smell with food instead.
·Estonia
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources39
Leaning Left8Leaning Right5Center12Last UpdatedBias Distribution48% Center
Bias Distribution
- 48% of the sources are Center
48% Center
L 32%
C 48%
R 20%
Factuality
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