Summer is upon us and with it also brings the risk of mosquito bites which , having to choose their prey, focus on the one that gives off the most appetizing smells. The combination of the scents of soaps and deodorants used every day, and the physiological smells of each one, such as sweat, can create a particularly attractive mix for mosquitoes.
A team of scholars from Virginia Tech (USA) discovered what the favorite “banquet” of mosquitoes is, who published a research in the journal iScience on the tastes of mosquitoes attracted by particular scents of soaps, not only used for cleansing everyday life, but also detergents and softeners for clothes. The interaction between the smells of detergents and the natural smells of each person, but also those of the environments in which we live, and what we eat, determine the more or less attractive mix for mosquitoes. This is due to the nourishment of the mosquitoes themselves, which not only feed on blood , but also on plant nectar, whose scent often recalls that of many soaps or deodorants.
Perfumes and smells that attract mosquitoes
- Plant-based perfumes and soaps
- Delicate and floral scents
- Fruit aromas
- Coconut
- Limonene
- Leatherodors such as:
- lactic acid, which is formed in the muscles after intense physical activity
- uric acid, ammonia and other substances excreted through the skin
- sweat
Perfumes that repel mosquitoes
- lavender,
- citronella,
- geranium,
- ask,
- eucalyptus,
- tea tree oil
Did you know that if you eat…
Even what you eat can be counterproductive in view of a mosquito attack. There are some foods that can cause substances in the breath and skin that can attract these insects , and favor the risk of stinging. Among these foods there are, for example: flowery rind cheeses such as brie , limburger and camembert , bananas , sweets, fried foods beer , red wine and sangria , foods very rich in group B vitamins (B1 and B6 ) and vitamin C , and garlic.
I study
According to the study carried out by researchers at Virginia Tech (USA) and published in the journal iScience, in addition to the natural smells of each, conditioning the tastes of mosquitoes would also be washing with some soaps rather than others, and the union between odors of those who use them.
This relationship was analyzed by taking four volunteers as a sample for the study, analyzing the odors emitted by the participants themselves, before and after cleansing with four different brands of soap. The olfactory profiles of the detergents used emerged from this analysis. The team found that each of the four test participants exuded their own unique odor profiles, some of which are more attractive to mosquitoes. The use of soap, however, had an influence, significantly modifying the olfactory profile.
To identify the specific ingredients that attract and repel mosquitoes, the researchers analyzed the different chemical compositions of soaps, highlighting four chemicals associated with attraction and three substances with repulsion. By mixing them with natural attractive and repulsive odors, they were able to map certain preferences of mosquitoes. It was thus discovered that, for example, those who gave off floral and fruity, or in any case vegetable, odors were more palatable, but not if they smelled of coconut or limonene.
