Common insect repellent now attracts mosquitoes — signaling a ‘blood meal’ for bugs: study

Research now shows that mosquitoes may bite the hand that feeds them Deet — at least in time. The commonly used chemical — which is the gold standard ingredient approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act as a mosquito repellent — has recently been shown to potentially attract the pesky insects, as they’ve come to associate the chemical with a fleshy meal.

Common insect repellent now attracts mosquitoes — signaling a ‘blood meal’ for bugs: study. Research now shows that mosquitoes may bite the hand that feeds them Deet — at least in time. The commonly used chemical — which is the gold standard ingredient approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to act as a mosquito repellent — has recently been shown to potentially attract the pesky insects, as they’ve come to associate the chemical with a fleshy meal. Professor Claudio Lazzari of the University of Tours in France told The Guardian that scientists previously believed that repellants worked solely due to their chemical makeup — whether through their toxicity, blocking the pests’ ability to find humans, or simply through their unpleasant-smelling nature. New research shows that mosquitoes may not be averse to Deet on subsequent e...