Warming temperatures could nullify some natural bug sprays, study finds.
Warming temperatures could nullify some natural bug sprays, study finds.
Hotter temperatures may render natural insect repellents less effective against mosquitoes, according to a new study.
Researchers found that a pain receptor called TRPA1 becomes less sensitive in mosquitoes when exposed to heat, meaning that the chemical cues that typically trigger insect avoidance behaviors are prevented from activating as strongly.
TRPA1, also known as the “wasabi receptor,” helps animals detect noxious heat and harmful chemicals. In humans, this receptor can induce eye and skin irritation. In mosquitoes, it influences which hosts the insects find most alluring – specifically, those unprotected by repellents that drive them away, said Peter Piermarini, co-author of the paper and a professor of entomology at The Ohio State University.
Read more at Ohio State University
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