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Mosquitoes learn to link the smell of DEET with a blood meal – new study

The Conversation · 🇦🇺 public Australia · · 856 words · By Leon Hugo
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What to know about Mosquitoes learn to link the smell of DEET with a blood meal – new study

The article discusses a new study from the University of Tours showing that mosquitoes can be conditioned to be attracted to DEET if exposed to it during a blood meal. While DEET remains an effective repellent, the research suggests that mosquitoes have a cognitive response to the chemical in addition to a physiological one.

Propaganda risk 10%
Claims checked 10
Techniques found 0
Topics 0

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage
Left20%
Center60%
Right20%

5 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Mosquito repellents are key to protect ourselves from mosquito bites and the pathogens they might carry.

Why it matters

The most widely used active ingredient in insect repellents is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET.

Common ground

Highly effective, long-lasting (approximately five hours) and cheap to make, DEET is a gold-standard insect repellent.

Perspective signals

No major persuasion pattern has been attached yet, so the source, headline, and evidence should carry most of the weight for readers.

The article discusses a new study from the University of Tours showing that mosquitoes can be conditioned to be attracted to DEET if exposed to it during a blood meal. While DEET remains an effective repellent, the research suggests that mosquitoes have a cognitive response to the chemical in addition to a physiological one.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://theconversation.com/mosquitoes-learn-to-link-the-smell-of-deet-with-a-bl…

analyticsAnalysis

10%
Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 10 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

verified Verified By Reference 3
check_circle Corroborated 3
help Insufficient Evidence 2
info Single Source 2
verified
Claim 1: “The most widely used active ingredient in insect repellents is N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide, commonly known as DEET.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Multiple authoritative sources, including Wikipedia and the US EPA, confirm that DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is one of the most common and widely used active ingredients in insect repellents.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called diethyltoluamide or DEET is the oldest active ingredient, and one of the most effective and common, in commercial ...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — DEET (chemical name, N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide) is the active ingredient in many insect repellent products. It is widely used to repel biting pests such as ...
https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/deet
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The chemical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET), commonly referred to as “DEET,” is used as the active ingredient in many insect-repellent products. N,N ...
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7410448/
help
Claim 2: “A couple of years later, scientists found a small portion of mosquitoes exposed to DEET are insensitive to it, and it’s a heritable trait.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute the claim regarding heritable insensitivity to DEET.
check_circle
Claim 3: “Female mosquitoes transmit parasites and viruses when they feed on vertebrate blood, which they need to provide proteins for egg development.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including Wikipedia and PMC, confirm that female mosquitoes require vertebrate blood for protein to develop eggs and transmit pathogens in the process.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Egg development and blood digestion. An Anopheles stephensi female is engorged with blood and beginning to pass unwanted liquid fractions to make room in its gut for more of the solid nutrients.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Female mosquitoes transmit parasites and viruses when they feed on vertebrate blood, which they need to provide proteins for egg development. To find their next blood meal, mosquitoes are strongly att…
https://www.sciencealert.com/your-insect-repellent-might-att…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Female mosquitoes are reproductively obligate bloodfeeders which feed on vertebrate blood to obtain nutrients required for egg production (driving transmission of vector-borne pathogens in the process…
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11482743/
info
Claim 4: “Mosquitoes detect all these with sensory organs located in their antennae, proboscis... and the maxillary palps”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the evidence confirms mosquitoes have antennae and are attracted to odors, the provided search results do not explicitly list the 'proboscis' and 'maxillary palps' as the specific sensory organs used for detection in the provided text snippets.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mosquitoes, the Culicidae, are a family of small flies consisting of 3,600 species. The word mosquito (formed by mosca and diminutive -ito) [2] is Spanish and Portuguese for little fly. [3] Mosquitoes…
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mosquitoes Mosquitoes can spread germs. Prevent mosquito bites to protect yourself from dengue, malaria, West Nile, and other infections. Take steps to control mosquitoes. View All
https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/index.html
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — May 14, 2024 · Facts about mosquitoes Almost everyone has been bitten by a mosquito. Mosquitoes can spread pathogens (germs) through bites. A person who gets bitten by a mosquito and gets sick has a m…
https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/index.html
verified
Claim 5: “DEET is a gold-standard insect repellent... developed more than 80 years ago”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
The National Pesticide Information Center states DEET was developed by the U.S. Army in 1946. Given the current date (2024-2026 range in evidence), this is more than 80 years ago (approximately 78-80 years). A web source explicitly states it was developed 'more than 80 years ago'.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — African tick bite fever (ATBF) is a bacterial infection spread by the bite of a tick. Symptoms may include fever, headache, muscle pain, and a rash. At the site of the bite there is typically a red sk…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_tick_bite_fever
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Lyme disease, also known as Lyme borreliosis, is a tick-borne disease caused by species of Borrelia bacteria, transmitted by blood-feeding ticks in the genus Ixodes. It is the most common disease spre…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyme_disease
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Tick paralysis is a type of paralysis caused by specific types of ticks reported mostly from the Americas, Asia, and Australia. Unlike other tick-borne diseases, the illness is caused by a neurotoxin …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tick_paralysis
+ 3 more evidence sources
info
Claim 6: “A new paper in the Journal of Experimental Biology led by Claudio Lazzari from the University of Tours, France, now shows mosquitoes can be conditioned to be attracted to DEET.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim is mentioned in a ScienceAlert article (referenced in the evidence for claim 3), but the specific web search results provided for claim 2 are irrelevant (Study.com and date ranges). Only the original reporting source (ScienceAlert) supports this specific study by Claudio Lazzari.
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1560s decade ran from January 1, 1560, to December 31, 1569.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1560s
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1610s decade ran from January 1, 1610, to December 31, 1619.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1610s
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Take online courses on Study.com that are fun and engaging. Pass exams to earn real college credit. Research schools and degrees to further your education.
https://study.com/
+ 2 more evidence sources
help
Claim 7: “In one study, mosquitoes exposed to DEET were less sensitive to it if exposed again within three hours.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was found in the provided search results to support or refute the claim regarding temporary decrease in sensitivity within three hours.
check_circle
Claim 8: “Insect repellents are a major method of protection against mosquito-borne diseases including malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Ross River virus, Japanese encephalitis virus and more.”
CORROBORATED
ScienceAlert, NaTHNaC, and Wikipedia (via the Ross River virus and insect-borne diseases entries) confirm that repellents are used to protect against these specific mosquito-borne diseases.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article contains a list of insect-borne diseases. They can take the form of parasitic worms, bacteria, protozoa, viruses, or the insects directly acting as a parasite.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_insect-borne_diseases
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — RID is an Australian brand of personal insect repellent sold and distributed in Australia, New Zealand, and online. It was the first insect repellent invented in Australia, in 1956. It is applied topi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RID_(insect_repellent)
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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Ross River virus (RRV) is a small encapsulated single-strand RNA Alphavirus endemic to Australia, Papua New Guinea and other islands in the South Pacific. It is responsible for a type of mosquito-bor…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ross_River_virus
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
Claim 9: “DEET has been in widespread commercial use since the 1950s”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia and other sources identify DEET as the 'oldest active ingredient' and the National Pesticide Information Center notes it was developed in 1946 and used by the public shortly thereafter, placing its widespread commercial use in the 1950s.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called diethyltoluamide or DEET (, from DET, the initials of di- + ethyl + toluamide), is the oldest active ingredient, and one of the most effective and common, in co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — An insect repellent (also commonly called "bug spray" or "bug deterrent") is a substance applied to the skin, clothing, or other surfaces to discourage insects (and arthropods in general) from landing…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Picaridin, also known as icaridin, is an insect repellent which can be used directly on skin or clothing. It has broad efficacy against various arthropods such as mosquitos, ticks, gnats, flies and fl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picaridin
+ 3 more evidence sources
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Claim 10: “In 2008, groundbreaking research showed DEET blocks the response of sensory neurons to host odours in mosquitoes and vinegar flies.”
CORROBORATED
ScienceAlert explicitly mentions the 2008 research showing DEET blocks sensory neuron responses in mosquitoes and vinegar flies. This is further supported by Frontiers and FleaScience discussing the 'blocking effect' and 'confusant' hypothesis.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Picaridin, also known as icaridin, is an insect repellent which can be used directly on skin or clothing. It has broad efficacy against various arthropods such as mosquitos, ticks, gnats, flies and fl…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Picaridin
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — N,N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide, also called diethyltoluamide or DEET (, from DET, the initials of di- + ethyl + toluamide), is the oldest active ingredient, and one of the most effective and common, in co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — An insect repellent (also commonly called "bug spray" or "bug deterrent") is a substance applied to the skin, clothing, or other surfaces to discourage insects (and arthropods in general) from landing…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent
+ 3 more evidence sources
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.