Mosquitoes can become attracted to insect repellant, study suggests
The insect may learn to associate the chemical Deet with a ‘blood meal’, researchers say
It is a spray used worldwide to protect humans from mosquito bites, but now research suggests Deet can become attractive to the insects if they associate it with feeding.
Deet – which has the chemical name N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide – is widely used in insect repellants, with the UK Health Security Agency https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mosquito-bite-avoidance-for-travellers/mosquito-bite-avoidance-advice-for-travellers--2">recommending products with 50% Deet as the first choice to protect against mosquito bites.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/28/deet-mosquito-spray-attract-insects-study-malaria-zika">Continue reading...