Mosquitoes Learn to Like DEET: Repellent May Become Attractant, Study Finds
## When Repellent Turns Into Bait: Mosquitoes May Be Relearning DEET Scientists at Virginia Tech have uncovered a striking behavioral adaptation: mosquitoes can become conditioned to view DEET—the world’s most trusted insect repellent—as a cue for blood. In experiments published in the *Journal of Experimental Biology*, researchers showed that when the scent of DEET lingers without fully dissipating, the insects associate it with a recent feeding opportunity, potentially converting a protective chemical into an inadvertent attractant. ### Key Takeaways - **Conditioned attraction**: Repeated exposure to sub‑lethal DEET levels leads mosquitoes to link the odor with successful blood meals. - **Partial fade matters**: The effect emerges when DEET’s scent diminishes but does not vanish, leaving a residual cue. - **Implications for control**: Standard repellent strategies may need reassessment, especially in environments with chronic DEET presence. - **Broader behavioral plasticity**: The findings highlight the capacity of disease vectors to adapt to chemical interventions. - **Future research direction**: Investigations are urged to explore formulation tweaks and alternative repellents that avoid conditioning effects. [Read Full Article](https://news.ababil360.com/mosquitoes-learn-to-like-deet-repellent-may-become-attractant-study-finds/) #MosquitoScience #DEETResearch #InsectBehavior #VectorControl #Entomology #PublicHealth #ChemicalEcology #RepellentResistance #DiseasePrevention #newsababil360..