A trio of researchers at the University of Wisconsin has discovered that a common soil bacterium produces a chemical that is more effective in repelling mosquitoes than DEET[*].
[...] The researchers report that their study began with Xenorhabdus budapestensis, a type of bacteria that takes up residence in soil-dwelling nematodes. The nematodes actually use the bacteria to help them parasitize insects. The researchers wanted to learn more about how the bacteria help kill insects and, in the process, found that mosquitoes were quite averse to its presence.
[...] Further testing showed that the chemical was up to three times more repellent than DEET. The team also found that high concentrations of the chemical served well as a repellent, while small concentrations worked well as a deterrent from drinking the blood from a treated surface. The researchers note that their work is purely preliminary, they have no idea if the chemical would be safe for human use, or if it could be made in mass quantities.
[...] More information: Mayur K. Kajla et al. Bacteria: A novel source for potent mosquito feeding-deterrents, Science Advances (2019). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aau6141
[*] From Wikipedia, DEET: "N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called DEET (/diːt/) or diethyltoluamide, is the most common active ingredient in insect repellents."
Let's hope they can get it to market before summer.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Friday January 18 2019, @02:06PM
If too many are attracted then there is a whole new problem.
I seem to remember a grade school story . . . executive summary . . .
Someone had mice.
To get rid of the mice they got cats. Then there were too many cats.
To get rid of the cats they got dogs. Then there were too many dogs.
To get rid of the dogs they got lions. Then there were too many lions.
To get rid of the lions they got elephants. Then there were too many elephants in the room.
To get rid of the elephants they got mice.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.