Mosquitoes can smell. What's more, they know to stay away from smells they dislike.
The finding was uncovered by UC Davis researches studying the effects of DEET on mosquitoes and published this week in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Scientists have long thought that DEET, the common name for N, N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide, repelled mosquitoes by masking the smell of the host or jamming the insect's senses and preventing it from being able to locate a host.
Mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects find hosts by body heat, skin odors, carbon dioxide or visual stimuli, according to a UC Davis news release.
But UC Davis researchers found a different scientific explanation for the chemical's effectiveness.
"We found that mosquitoes can smell DEET, and they stay away from it," said Walter Leal, professor of entomology at UC Davis, in a written statement. "DEET doesn't mask the smell of the host or jam the insect's senses. Mosquitoes don't like it because it smells bad to them."
Mosquitoes can smell with their antennae. Leal and Zain Syed, another UC Davis researcher, discovered the precise neurons on the antennae that detect DEET, which are next to other neurons that sense a chemical known to attract mosquitoes, the release states.
DEET is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents and was developed by scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and patented by the U.S. Army in 1946.
The UC Davis researchers' findings are considered a breakthrough by many, including officials at the American Mosquito Control Association, who say it may lead to developing new mosquito repellents, the release states.
Call The Bee's Niesha Lofing, (916) 321-1270.
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