Did you know that some people in the world are more tasty to mosquitoes than other? This and other fascinating facts have been found by studying the field of biomimicry. Many of the cosmetic and personal care products you use everyday came as a result of studying nature. Here’s a story about research on a brand new insect repellant. These scientists really crack me up. Listen to what they did.
Mosquito madness
First, they convinced people to volunteer to be exposed to hundreds of mosquitoes. (Some people will do anything for a buck). They created this Y-shaped chamber and had two volunteers place a hand under one of the opening. The itch-inducing insects then flew down the chamber looking for some blood to suck. It turns out that mosquitoes really do prefer some people over others. And the reason is related to the different chemicals you naturally produce in your sweat.
After identifying the lucky people who were distasteful to mosquitoes, the researchers then collected their sweat and isolated the key repellant chemicals. My favorite part, they attached tiny electrodes to the mosquito’s antennae. Can you imagine trying to put an electrode on a mosquito?
New chemistry
Through this research, the scientists created a new, natural insect repellant that the rest of us can use. They are waiting for a patent to be granted before they tell the Beauty Brains and the world what chemical they use, but soon it will be found in sprays, lotions and creams just like DEET.
For years people have been trying to find alternatives to DEET. Forget what you’ve heard about natural ingredients like Citronella or Beautyberry, they don’t work very well. Right now, DEET-containing products are the only thing that is really effective for everyone. But DEET has some issues so scientists have continued to study insects to find better alternatives. It looks like by collecting sweat and strapping electrodes on mosquitoes, they’ve finally come up with something that works.
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{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
*snorts* I knew this YEARS ago. They’re just discovering this now?
When I was a kid I had to constantly be on Septra.
(Totally stealing this next bit from Wikipedia for those who don’t know what Septra is.)
Co-trimoxazole (abbreviated SXT, TMP-SMX, TMP-SMZ or TMP-sulfa) is a sulfonamide antibiotic combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, in the ratio of 1 to 5, used in the treatment of a variety of bacterial infections. The name co-trimoxazole is the British Approved Name, and has been marketed worldwide under many trade names including Septra (GSK), Bactrim (Roche), and various generic preparations. Sources differ as to whether co-trimoxazole usually is bactericidal or bacteriostatic.
ANYWAY – I had to take this every single day for years because I had constant and chronic bladder and kidney infections. When we went camping mosquitoes never bothered me. Neither did ticks, chiggers, etc.
Soon as I stopped having to take Septra every single day, I was suddenly a one woman meal for all sorts of bloodsuckers.
Therefore, I determined that some people just taste better to bugs then others. And obviously some of it depends on what we consume in the ways of food and medication.
And why does it seem that people who are allergic to mosquito bites get bitten more often?
Jami, you have my sympathies. I took Bactrim once and would rather live in a plastic bubble than do that again! OTOH, mosquitoes loved me until menopause (at age 31). I don’t use hormones or supplements, just the lack of estrogen I suppose. My DH uses asthma meds daily and mosquitoes avoid him, too.
Beautyberry leaves might not work great for everyone, but they work awesome for me. Mosquitos LOOOOOVE me. Rubbing myself with crushed beautyberry leaves is the difference between looking like I have a horrible, horrible rash (since there are just soooo many bites) and getting maybe only a bite or two in spots I missed.
im actually one of those people who doesnt ever get mosquito bites, but its still awesome that theyre doing this kind of research.
danielle, its possible that people who are allergic get bit more, but i think part of the issue is simply that allergic people appear to be bitten more because it actually shows up. for example, if ive ever been bitten i wouldnt know it because ive never reacted to a bite, but that doesnt necessarily mean i really havent ever been bitten.
They stalk my daughter and try to go through the deet.
Beauty Brains, you mentioned that natural repellants don’t work. Have you ever looked into the studies that have been done on catnip? According to researchers, it’s about ten times more effective than DEET, and obviously all-natural.
Catnip works? I’m interested. (I have plenty around with 4 furry felines.)
But I do seem to be a magnet for mosquitos no matter what I try.
I have tried vitamin B supplements having read that was effective (didn’t read it here). I have used lemongrass soap/spray; tea tree oil – not sure why but stuff stinks; Deep Woods Off amongst other sprays. Nothing works. Sometimes I have so many bites, I look like one big red bump. lol. sigh.
When I lived in Louisiana, mosquito activity was one of the MANY reasons I had to avoid the “great” outdoors. Skin So Soft never really works, even though everyone and their grandmother swear by it. I don’t care for the harsh chemical scent of Deep Woods Off. I found that popping a couple of B-Complex vitamins several hours before going outside and dabbing on some clove oil to be pretty effective. Not sure if it was scientifically based, but I did get through the family reunion season without a bite.
Um, I did read on the catnip essential oil that it had no idea what effect it might have on wild cats (i.e. mountain lions) if one were camping. As we were actually on our way to the wilds, I did NOT get any!
Mosquitos actually love me! I’ve had various allergic reactions to the bites, including having to go to hospital twice with them. I’ve always know that mosquitos are more attacted to some people than others, our family all have what they term (hilariously!) Skeeter Syndrome. Anyway, I have to now use DEET products nearly all the time (even in the UK) but when I just can’t handle the stickiness of the insect repellent sprays, I find lavender oil works really well for me, the little critters hate it.