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Science

Why Mosquitoes Bother Some And Not Others 61

Posted by michael from the itchy-and-scratchy dept.
antipode writes "The BBC reports that scientists may have a better clue why mosquitoes prefer biting some people to others. This may lead to formulating a next generation of mosquito repellent that would suppress the smells attracting the blood sucking insects. According to the article, such repellent would be odor-less by itself. Wonder whether it's going to be more evil than Deet-based repellents, which, while being the only type that actually works, dissolve plastic and are believed by some to be carcinogenic."
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Why Mosquitoes Bother Some And Not Others More

Why Mosquitoes Bother Some And Not Others

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  • My wife knows mosquitos love me. Whereever she goes, she's safe from mosquitos if I'm nearby.

  • It's a Natural Repellant (Score:5, Informative)

    by AllMightyPaul ( 553038 ) on Friday January 21, 2005 @11:56AM (#11433024)
    "Wonder whether it's going to be more evil than Deet-based repellents, which, while being the only type that actually works, dissolve plastic and are believed by some to be carcinogenic."

    If the poster actually did read the article, he would have noticed that it says that it's a natural repellant made from chemicals already produced by the body. This leads to a high likelihood that it's not dangerous.
    • Hmm with this technology its only a matter of time until Thinkgeek start selling canisters of odourless "chick" repellent which can be used discreetly on the overly biggoted and generaly annoying BigManOnCampus.

      I can see the results now... :)

    • > it's a natural repellant made from chemicals already produced by the body.
      > This leads to a high likelihood that it's not dangerous.

      Non sequiteur. Ammonia is a natural chemical already produced by the body
      (occurring prominently, for example, in urine), but when a tanker truck
      carrying ammonia spills on the highway, it's an environmental disaster.
      Bile is a natural chemical already produced by the body and is a natural
      emulsifier. Endorphins and human growth hormone and steroids (such as
      testosterone)
      • Don't forget the good ol' hydrochloric stomach acid! Your body has to create ANOTHER chemical to protect your stomach from its effects.

        The point is, we still don't entirely understand our bodies, and we don't know what checks and balances exist. If we tip the balances, or isolate and extract chemicals from them for other uses, we don't understand exactly what will happen.

  • Needless Editorializing (Score:5, Insightful)

    by stienman ( 51024 ) <adavis&ubasics,com> on Friday January 21, 2005 @11:58AM (#11433048) Homepage Journal
    ...and are believed by some to be carcinogenic.

    I love this type of statement. It just reeks with the type of FUD that flies back and forth in the OS war.

    If it's a belief, then it has no place in the introduction - it's a myth or rumor.

    If, however, there are studies which cast doubt on its safety then it's well and good to show that with a statement like, "and are shown to be carcinogenic in some studies."

    Gah. I realize I'm being pedantic, but can we please stop the rumors and FUD in general? Or are we merely being hypocritical by letting our own FUD be published while decrying FUD used against us?

    -Adam

    • Re:Needless Editorializing (Score:5, Informative)

      by thesp ( 307649 ) on Friday January 21, 2005 @12:09PM (#11433149)
      Well, here at Oxford, if we want to use this stuff we have to go by the MSDS, given here [ox.ac.uk]. It states: Safety (MSDS) data for N,N-diethyl-N-toluamide "Toxicology Toxic if swallowed, inhaled or absorbed through the skin. May cause systemic effects. Experimental reproductive effects. Mutagenic data. May cause CNS disturbances. Toxicity data SKN-HMN TDLO 35 mg kg-1 ORL-WMN LDLO 950 mg kg-1 ORL-MAN LDLO 679 mg kg-1 ORL-RAT LD50 1950 mg kg-1 SKN-RBT LD50 3180 mg kg-1" Furthermore "Personal protection: Safety glasses, gloves, adequate ventilation."
      So, the "...are believed by some" tag is entirely valid...
      • Perhaps I'm misreading, but I don't see 'carcinigen' in there. Toxic, yes. Mutagenic data...? This is mutation, not cancer.

        Further, you're reading the data sheet for the pure chemical. Of course the risks and the care that must be taken are significantly greater than the 1% or so solution used for mosquito protection.

        As I said - no need to put 'believed'. Lots of people believe in an alien conspiracy - let's talk about what we know to be true, or even theories, not what is 'believed.'

        -Adam
        • "1% or so solution" ????

          Typical bug sprays are around 30% deet, and it is not at all difficult to buy pure liquid deet as well (usually in a non-aerosol pump).

          • In Canada at least, you can no longer purchase concentrations higher than 30%. I still treasure my bottle of 99.5% Deet and related toluamides Muskol. Nothing keeps the bugs off better!
        • *coughs*

          And what was it that you thought cancer actually *is*?

          Mutations, my friend. Nothing more, nothing less. some beneficial or benign, most dangerous. Are you really proposing that Deet causes (according to some studies) "mutations" that will give you the power to control the weather or fly? What type of "mutation" are you really expecting here?
      • Kudos, nice way to shut up a troll!
      • I believe DEET is actually N, N-diethyl-3-methybenzamide (DEET)
        See ref: http://www.msstate.edu/Entomology/Homepest/mosquit orepell.html [msstate.edu]
        Although I am not a chemistry person.

  • Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)

    by account_deleted ( 4530225 ) on Friday January 21, 2005 @12:05PM (#11433116)
    Comment removed based on user account deletion
    • Yep. You can even buy carbon dioxide-based mosquito lures or traps.

      IIRC the problem is that different mosquito species are attracted to different concentration levels of CO2 emissions.

      What would be good (at least on the short-term, for the benefit of humankind only) is if there was a massive international spraying campaign of organisms that feed on mosquito larvaes.

      Question is, what is the importance of the mosquito in the food chain?
      • Question is, what is the importance of the mosquito in the food chain?

        The exact same question could be asked about homo sapiens, are you sure you want to delve too far into that subject?
      • In that case, couldn't I just crack open a beer? The stupid mosquitos get lured into the fizzy brew and then get covered in beer and can't fly out. In the ultimate irony, I can then consume the little bitches as I drink, getting a nice protein hit to balance out the carbs in the beer.

        In Soviet Russia, I eat the mosquito!

        Or something...

  • B-complex (Score:5, Interesting)

    by cbiffle ( 211614 ) on Friday January 21, 2005 @12:07PM (#11433132)
    I wish the article had provided a bit more info on what the specific chemicals were.

    In my family, we've traditionally used B-complex to ward off mosquitos. If you take a certain amount (more than usual, not enough to stink and turn orange), mosquitos ignore you completely.

    Wonder if it's related.
    • I agree that the article needs more information. I don't find it interesting that there are "come and get me" smells that make mosquitos bite me. I'd much rather know what these chemicals are, although I realize that they're probably not releasing that information due to publications, etc. that are pending.

      Personally, I don't ever use bug spray. I let the mosquitos bite. Most of my family has developed a tolerance to mosquito bites so that they don't really itch anymore (mosquito bites itch basically b
      • Personally, I don't ever use bug spray. I let the mosquitos bite. Most of my family has developed a tolerance to mosquito bites so that they don't really itch anymore (mosquito bites itch basically because of an allergic reaction to chemicals that the mosquitos secrete and leave on your skin).

        I hope you don't live in an area where West Nile Virus is a concern.

    • I wish the article had provided a bit more info on what the specific chemicals were.
      I saw this story on the Channel 4 News [channel4.com] yesterday and at the end of the report the correspondent said something like: "as to what the chemicals are, the scientists won't say as they are seeking a patent".
    • Years ago my boy scout troop used Geritol and it mostly worked well for most guys but there tended to be one that it didn't work for. It worked within reason as well. If you were too close to the very high density mosquito breeding grounds, you would get bit.
  • Want to repel mosquitos? A fan and baby powder works just fine.

  • Maybe it's genetic? (Score:3, Funny)

    by Xaroth ( 67516 ) on Friday January 21, 2005 @12:21PM (#11433284) Homepage
    I mean, they could just start with the Yamada family and see what makes *them* so tasty!

    For those that don't get the reference [gamespot.com]

  • Horse Mosquitos (Score:3, Interesting)

    by RobertB-DC ( 622190 ) * on Friday January 21, 2005 @12:23PM (#11433299) Homepage Journal
    It's already known that some mosquitos target specific species. I've seen this in action on my horses -- they can be covered in LARGE mosquitos, while I remain relatively bite-free. That doesn't stop me from trying to kill as many of them as I can.

    Of course, one reason these mosquitos can survive on horses is because horses are big and tough, whereas I am small and wimpy. When the horse walks off, the mosquitos that get left behind sometimes decide they should try a little human in their diet... and it HURTS, with the result that the mosquito in question gets splattered. Darwinian selection at work.

    How about this: give me something that will ATTRACT and then KILL the mosquitoes. Preferably, something like this [tabasco.com].

  • Need beta testers? (Score:2, Interesting)

    by jtapper ( 461531 )
    Spending a summer in Winnipeg [mywinnipeg.com] will be the ultimate test for this or any other mosquito product.

    There was a few weeks this year where I could even use the front door of my house because for wahtever reason the mosquitos liked to congregate on my door. There would be 20-30 on the door and of course they'll get into the house.

    The only thing more annoying than mosquitos outside is mosquitos inside.

    Be sure to check out the annual mosquito festival in Winnipeg starting May long weekend and going through until

  • Other stories (Score:2, Interesting)

    by tod_miller ( 792541 )
    New Scientist coverage [newscientist.com] 22nd Jan
    17 th Jan New Scientsit better article [newscientist.com]

    I am convinced if thier search went back to 2000/2001 they had this story back then (about scents that attract mosquitos)

    mosquitos are actively being eradicated by technology, developments to ecnourage bats to 'cave' closer to mosquito hotspots, 100watt sound speakers that bust open the guts of larvea under water and my personal favourite, a well aimed pillow in the middle of the night.

    bastards.
  • Everyone should know that mosquito repellent does not keep mosquitos from finding the area around you although it may keep them off your actual body.

    Mosquitos are attracted to the CO2 from your breath. They arent attracted to smell or blood or anything.

  • From someone who probably knows... (Score:4, Informative)

    by b00m3rang ( 682108 ) * on Friday January 21, 2005 @01:48PM (#11434267)
    A park ranger told me that what they all use is Avon Skin So Soft. It's not designed as a bug repellant, but apparently it works the best.

    I haven't tried it myself.
    • I have... it's freakish how well this stuff repels mosquitos!
      • Agreed. I used to live in N. MN in the swampland (Iron Range) and I'm one of those people whom for whatever reason mosquit-woes consider Fine Dining :0

        A.S.S.S. (lol) helps - doesn't eliminate the problem, for me at least, but it definitely reduced it. I'd put some Avon on one arm, and watch the other arm get covered quicker.

        I've since moved to somewhere much drier. Mosquitoes? What mosquitoes? :-D

        ( Of course we have certain bluebottle-type flies who would make excellent torture implements. :( )
    • That's all we used when I was a kid. It worked great for me, but skeeters always seem to prefer someone else to myself, so I may not be the best spokesperson.
  • Hm. I'd heard previously that blood type also had something to do with it. But it doesn't, apparently. http://ask.yahoo.com/ask/20041111.html [yahoo.com] I'm the type of person that gets nailed three times by one mosquito, and they Always come to me first. They'll pass by three of my coworkers just to get to me... it's pretty effing irritating. I also seem to be more resistant to poisonous spiders, scorpions, and hornet stings than I am to a simple mosquito or flea bite. When I first landed in Hawaii, one nailed me on
  • It was already known that some people produce "come and get me" smells which appeal to the blood-suckers.....Rothamsted Research, in Herts, found those less likely to be bitten produced odours which masked these scents.

    What if this masking agent turns out to be B.O.? It just may have the downside of repelling girls also.

  • produced by Avon skin-so-soft is a popular [msstate.edu]folk mosquito repellent, if your friends can stand the smell.

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