Mosquitoes learn to link the smell of DEET with a blood meal – new study
Chris F/Pexels Mosquito repellents are key to protect ourselves from mosquito bites and the pathogens they might carry. The most widely used active ingredient in insect repellents is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET . Highly effective, long-lasting (approximately five hours) and cheap to make, DEET is a gold-standard insect repellent. But even though it was developed more than 80 years ago, there are important gaps in our understanding of how DEET actually w
New research indicates that mosquitoes can learn to associate the smell of DEET, a common insect repellent, with a blood meal. Scientists found that mosquitoes repeatedly exposed to DEET while feeding became conditioned to be attracted to the chemical. This suggests that mosquitoes may develop behavioral responses to repellents beyond simply being confused by their scent.
Understanding how mosquitoes learn to interact with repellents like DEET is crucial for developing more effective strategies to combat mosquito-borne diseases.
📌 Kaynak
Bu özet The Conversation AU kaynağından otomatik derlenmiştir. Tamamı için orijinal habere gidin.
Orijinal haberi oku →