Mosquito Repellant Ingredient Losing Effectiveness

[Guest fountainhall]

For years, the advice has always been to use mosquito repellants containing DEET. Now, though, it seems these pesky creatures which make life misery for many are not so put off so easily by the smell of DEET. Indeed, researchers are now suggesting that alternatives will soon have to be found to protect against those nasty bites.
 

 

. . . researchers from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine took some A. aegypti mosquitoes in the laboratory, and tempted them with a human arm covered in Deet.

As expected, the repellent put the insects off their potential meal.

However, a few hours later when the same mosquitoes were offered a chance to dine again, the researchers found that the Deet was less effective.

To investigate why this might be happening, the researchers attached electrodes to the insects' antenna.

Dr Logan explained: "We were able to record the response of the receptors on the antenna to Deet, and what we found was the mosquitoes were no longer as sensitive to the chemical, so they weren't picking it up as well.

"There is something about being exposed to the chemical that first time that changes their olfactory system - changes their sense of smell - and their ability to smell Deet, which makes it less effective."

Earlier research by the same team found that genetic changes to the same species of mosquito can make them immune to Deet, although it was not clear if there were any mosquitoes like this in the wild.

Dr Logan said it was vital to understand both these permanent genetic and temporary olfactory changes that were taking place.

He said: "Mosquitoes are very good at evolving very very quickly."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21519998

 

Use of DEET based repellants is still advised in high risk areas, though.

[Rogie]

It's quite a while since my last visit to a malarial area. The smell of DEET is unpleasant, but rather like cod liver oil (it's cheating to take the capsules!) if it makes you suffer you know it's doing you some good. Now it seems the best we can hope for is a false sense of security.

 

Mosquitoes are clever but so are humans. A good example of that is sickle call anaemia, an adaptation to living life in an area where malarial mosquitoes are rife.

 

But of course the timescale of humans and mosquitoes are vastly different. I wonder how many generations of mosquitoes can live and breed within a single human lifespan.

[Guest RichLB]

Surprisingly, Avon's Skin So Soft is the best mosquito repellant I've found.  And even better, it smells good and is good for your skin.

[Rogie]

Good one Rich! Let's keep that to ourselves, the more people use it the more them mozzies will find a way to get us.

[TotallyOz]

I agree with RichLB, the Avon stuff is amazing.

 

Do you get many mosquitoes in Bangkok? When I have been in Pattaya, they are pretty bad at night and at the beaches but OK in my apartment.

 

I have also had Dengue Fever 2 times and I think that is mosquito born.

[Guest fountainhall]

There are mosquitos everywhere in Bangkok, often in cinemas, usually in bars and always, for some reason, buzzing around in the Thailand Cultural Centre! True! But I live 8 floors up and I have only twice in 11 years found a mosquito in my flat!

[Guest RichLB]

Another mosquito secret is the power of lemon grass.  A couple sprigs of that herb in a bottle in a room will keep the pests away.  It works for me, although I'm not fond of the smell but prefer it to swatting moskies.

[Guest]

On the subject of Malaria, if I understand correctly, the USA managed to get rid of this years ago. 

 

So why isn't there a co-ordinated effort in other regions, such as SE Asia?   I suppose it's a bit difficult with large & dysfunctional countries like India not so fat away.

 

The other thing I don't understand is breeding genetically modified mosquitoes that pass on a birth defect so the young mosquitoes die. 

So how do they breed enough mosquitoes to infiltrate the wild ones?

Once released, wouldn't natural selection mean the mosquitoes without the defect survive untroubled?  

[williewillie]

I agree with RichLB, the Avon stuff is amazing.

 

Do you get many mosquitoes in Bangkok? When I have been in Pattaya, they are pretty bad at night and at the beaches but OK in my apartment.

 

I have also had Dengue Fever 2 times and I think that is mosquito born.

 

 

Whew!  I didn't know you could get dengue fever more than once.  Just curious, were both eposodes the same or one worst or more intense than the other.  Are there drugs to help dengue?  Did you get it in Pattaya ?

[KhorTose]

Surprisingly, Avon's Skin So Soft is the best mosquito repellant I've found. And even better, it smells good and is good for your skin.

Good one Rich! Let's keep that to ourselves, the more people use it the more them mozzies will find a way to get us.

I might  be curious to know how you discovered this in the first place, but thanks for the information I will give it a try.

[Guest scottishguy]

I knew about the Avon stuff - read it on a forum years ago and tried it.

 

Unfortunately it didn't work for me - I think all these products, including deet, vary enormously from person to person in their effectiveness

[Guest terrychris]

Scotty sent you a message

[Guest scottishguy]

Yes and I have replied hours ago but you seem not to be getting my reply

[NIrishGuy]

And what is it that makes farang seem SO much more tasty than Thai guys, do we emit a different smell or something that the wee buggers just love as I go out with three or four Thai friends of an evening, we all go to the same place and sit inches apart but the next day theres me with lumps out of me and bites everywhere and my Thai friends have not a single bite between them and they can never believe just how much I've been eaten - or I wonder is it just that my observation and swatting skills aren't as honed as theirs perhaps ! ??

[KhorTose]

And what is it that makes farang seem SO much more tasty than Thai guys, do we emit a different smell

I read that different perfumes, afterhaves and soaps attack them so you may try not putting them on and see what happens. Of course it could also be the smell of Beamish, Guinness, Harp, Bushmills or Jamesons. More then likely though, you are just too sweet for your own good.