Scientists study the mosquito behavior for years in order to find effective solutions to combat diseases transmitted by these insects. Recently, however, Virginia Tech researchers discovered a surprising connection between mosquito attractiveness and the type of soap people use.
According to the study published in the journal iScience, certain aromas present in body soaps can alter the olfactory profile of human beings, making them more attractive to mosquitoes. This is because, when mosquitoes are not feeding on blood, they supplement their diet with plant nectar.
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Thus, the floral and fruity smells of scented soaps in humans can either increase or decrease their attractiveness to mosquitoes. The survey was conducted with four volunteers, and the team studied each individual's unique scent profile, unwashed and washed with each Dial, Dove, Native, and Simple Truth soap. More than 60% of what is odor after washing comes from soap, not natural body odors.
Also, replacing some body chemicals while eliminating others can cause a lot of chemical interaction between the natural chemicals, and the soap chemicals.
How was this result tested?
To test for scent interactions, the researchers placed mosquitoes in a cage containing two cups. of odor extracts and gave them a choice between unwashed scents collected from individuals and their scent washed. These were gathered from a nylon sleeve on the forearm with washed and unwashed body. The tests were repeated for the various flavor combinations.
The results showed that three of the four soaps increased mosquito attractiveness, while one decreased it. All soaps had a fruity or floral scent. Coconut scent decreased mosquito attractiveness, increasing the potential for using coconut-scented soaps to reduce mosquito attractiveness.
The researchers plan to expand the study to deodorants, laundry detergents and other scented products to determine how different scents affect mosquito attractiveness. This research could be useful for developing mosquito repellent products based on specific scents.
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