Bugs take a taste before they bite
Scientists now know how bug repellants like DEET and citronella-scented candles work to keep mosquitoes and other insects from putting the bite on you.
“When a mosquito lands, it tastes your skin with its gustatory receptors, before it bites,” explains lead researcher Craig Montell, a professor at Johns Hopkins University. “We think that one of the reasons DEET is relatively effective is that it causes avoidance responses not only through the sense of smell but also through the sense of taste. That’s pretty important because, even if a mosquito lands on you, there’s a chance it won’t bite.”
Full story at Futurity.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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