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Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

journals.biologists.com

11–20 of 50 posts

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#11
post #6

that explains. I was always wondering why in Siberia (where i worked for 2 summers back then at university times) coming out from house with freshly applied DEET you're getting covered with mosquitos - i was attributing that to the especial ferociousness of the mosquitos there - yet it sounds like the smell of DEET for them in those towns may have become like a BBQ smell for us :)

Freshly marinated in DEET

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#12
post #2

[flagged]

It's OK, we still have picaridin

DEET should ruin things less if you stick to 35-40%. There is practically no benefit in going higher anyway. Those using 100% are asking for damage.

Picaridin gives me worsened tinnitus, so I can't use it unless maybe I slowly try to condition myself to it over a week. DEET doesn't.

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#15
post #6

that explains. I was always wondering why in Siberia (where i worked for 2 summers back then at university times) coming out from house with freshly applied DEET you're getting covered with mosquitos - i was attributing that to the especial ferociousness of the mosquitos there - yet it sounds like the smell of DEET for them in those towns may have become like a BBQ smell for us :)

A bit like how capsaicin was evolved to prevent things being eaten by mammals, but... Well.. humans came along and developed a taste for it.

"Evolution! Can you give me capsaicin, to deter mammals? I want birds to spread my seeds!"

https://youtu.be/1fW2uTRdUJU

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#16

I hope these mosquitoes were not released in the wild. The simple answer would be to add a natural strongly repellent gentle oil to the DEET spray.

Spray made from lemon eucalyptus works[1]. Not as well as DEET, but it works.

[1] https://www.consumerreports.org/health/insect-repellent/oil-...

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#17

I hope these mosquitoes were not released in the wild. The simple answer would be to add a natural strongly repellent gentle oil to the DEET spray.

A couple years back, I spray some DEET on my shoes, 5 seconds later, a tiger mosquito tried to bite me on that spot (and yes on the shoe itself, just insane to see it trying ).

They already loved that shit.

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#18
post #6

that explains. I was always wondering why in Siberia (where i worked for 2 summers back then at university times) coming out from house with freshly applied DEET you're getting covered with mosquitos - i was attributing that to the especial ferociousness of the mosquitos there - yet it sounds like the smell of DEET for them in those towns may have become like a BBQ smell for us :)

So maybe the solution is to apply DEET to a bug zapper

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#19

I hope these mosquitoes were not released in the wild. The simple answer would be to add a natural strongly repellent gentle oil to the DEET spray.

Yeah, I would not be surprised if this learned behavior is passed on epigenetically. This is almost like gain of function research potentially.

Re: Associative learning turns DEET from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti

#20
post #6

that explains. I was always wondering why in Siberia (where i worked for 2 summers back then at university times) coming out from house with freshly applied DEET you're getting covered with mosquitos - i was attributing that to the especial ferociousness of the mosquitos there - yet it sounds like the smell of DEET for them in those towns may have become like a BBQ smell for us :)

A bit like how capsaicin was evolved to prevent things being eaten by mammals, but... Well.. humans came along and developed a taste for it. "Evolution! Can you give me capsaicin, to deter mammals? I want birds to spread my seeds!" https://youtu.be/1fW2uTRdUJU

They got the ultimate seed-spreading, since we farm them.
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