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POLITIKOFF

Mosquitoes can learn to be attracted to disinfectants

Politiko 2026-06-01 10:50:53

Mosquitoes can learn to be attracted to disinfectants

A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Biology suggests that mosquitoes can actually learn to be attracted to DEET, a common ingredient used in insect repellents.

DEET, also known by its chemical name, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, is widely used around the world to protect people from mosquito bites.

The UK Health Safety Agency recommends repellents containing 50% DEET as one of the best ways to prevent mosquito bites.

New research, led by Claudio Lazzari from the University of Tours in France, found that mosquitoes can be trained to associate the smell of DEET with receiving a blood meal.

"For a long time, it was believed that repellents worked solely because of their chemical properties, either by being toxic or unpleasant to mosquitoes and repelling them, or by blocking their ability to detect humans. However, our findings suggest that the response can be modified by experience," says Lazzari. "We believe this represents an important shift in our understanding of repellents."

In the experiment, mosquitoes were first kept in a container connected to two chambers - one with fresh air and the other with DEET. At first, the insects were allowed to feed on warm artificial blood while being exposed only to fresh air.

Later, the researchers introduced DEET while the mosquitoes were feeding, teaching them to associate the smell with food.

To test the results, trained and untrained mosquitoes were placed in small tubes. One side had a person's untreated hand, while the other had a hand sprayed with the repellent deet (DEET). Trained mosquitoes tried to bite the DEET-coated hand, while untrained mosquitoes avoided it.

The researchers found that nearly 60% of mosquitoes trained with blood and DEET attempted to reach and bite a researcher's DEET-treated hand. Meanwhile, untrained mosquitoes preferred the untreated hand instead.

"Mosquitoes have been shown to have impressive learning abilities, but the fact that they can associate such a strong, repulsive odor with their food and then be attracted to it is remarkable and important for us to consider in the future," says Lazzari.

However, experts stressed that these findings do not mean that people should stop using DEET-based repellents. They explained that DEET still works effectively in normal use./  DPA News.

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