Mosquito research reveals species-specific biting preferences and DEET effects

New scientific research is shedding light on why certain individuals are more susceptible to mosquito bites and how insect repellents may function differently than previously understood.

Researchers from Florida International University found that different mosquito species target different people based on specific criteria. A study published in ‘iScience’ involving 119 adults revealed that mosquito species like the Yellow Fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) have distinct preferences. These preferences appear to be influenced by skin bacteria and chemical scents. For instance, the Yellow Fever mosquito showed a slight preference for men, potentially due to higher levels of Corynebacterium on their skin.

Additionally, a study conducted by teams from the University of Tours and Virginia Tech suggests that the common repellent DEET might not always act as a deterrent. Published in the ‘Journal of Experimental Biology’, the research indicates that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can undergo associative learning, eventually linking the smell of DEET with a food reward, which may lead to an unexpected attraction to the substance rather than avoidance.