Could Soap Be Making You More Irresistible to Mosquitoes
Could Soap Be Making You More Irresistible to Mosquitoes
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It’s common for people to have a favorite soap brand, but what’s intriguing is that mosquitoes might have their own preferences too! A recent study suggests that the kind of soap you use could be a factor in how many mosquitoes are attracted to you, regardless of your skin’s cleanliness… Could Soap Be Making You More Irresistable To Mosquitoes?
Previous research has indicated that mosquitoes are attracted or repelled by particular fragrances, particularly after detecting the scent of human skin. Scientists from Virginia Tech have discovered that mosquitoes are drawn to people who use soaps like Dove or Simple Truth, while they are deterred by coconut-scented brands such as Native. By selecting the appropriate soap, individuals can potentially avoid these bothersome insects, which can cause irritating bites and transmit serious illnesses such as malaria.
Senior author and neuroethologist Clément Vinauger expresses his amazement, stating,
“It’s astonishing how a person can be more alluring to mosquitoes with one soap, and simultaneously repulsive to them with another.”
😎🦟 Congratulations, Dr. Lahondère and Dr. Vinauger, on your newest paper!! 🙌😎 “Behavioral response of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) to essential oils of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnh) & their blend in Y-maze olfactometer”https://t.co/Zd5Y5M3NVj
— VT Biochemistry (@vtbiochem) November 22, 2024
But Which Soaps?
Through a series of experiments, researchers discovered that using Dove and Simple Truth soap made some volunteers more appealing to mosquitoes, while Native soap had the opposite effect. This means that choosing the correct soap, as well as clothing to protect your skin, may be critical in avoiding these pesky insects this summer, as per the team’s findings. Despite several theories regarding why some individuals are more prone to mosquito bites while others are not, the study emphasizes the role of soap and its impact on mosquito attraction.
Co-author and biologist Chloé Lahondère explains in a media release that
“everyone has a distinct scent, even after using soap. Various factors, such as your physical condition, lifestyle, eating habits, and the environments you frequent, can all influence your body odor.”
She further adds,
“Soaps not only add chemicals to our body odor but also alter the release of compounds that are naturally produced, these changes in body odor may be the reason why certain soaps attract or repel mosquitoes.”
The researchers analyzed the odors of four human volunteers before and one hour after washing with Dial, Dove, Native, and Simple Truth soaps. The team also analyzed the scent profiles of the different soap types. These findings suggest that the choice of soap could significantly affect mosquito attraction.
Who Gets Bit and Why?
The study revealed that each participant had a distinct body odor, and some of these odors were more appealing to mosquitoes than others. Washing with soap substantially changed these odors, and the researchers discovered that the changes were not solely due to the inclusion of floral scents.
The study used only female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes for their experiments, as they are the sex of the species that feeds on blood and can transmit diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and Zika.
In addition to analyzing the effects of soap on mosquitoes’ preferences, the researchers also investigated the impact of exhaled carbon dioxide (CO2), a crucial cue for mosquitoes. The team tested fabric that had absorbed the volunteers’ odors to assess the effect of CO2, which mosquitoes can detect from the exhalation of humans and other animals. The presence of CO2 stimulates female mosquitoes, increasing their activity and prompting them to explore their surroundings in search of a host.
As Clément Vinauger, senior author and neuroethologist, explains,
“What matters most to mosquitoes is not necessarily the most abundant chemical, but the specific combinations and associations of chemicals, not only from the soap but also from our personal body odors.”
Could Soap Be Making You More Irresistible to Mosquitoes? Even Anti Mosquito Soaps!
Despite all four tested soaps containing limonene, a known mosquito repellent, the study found that three out of the four soaps actually increased mosquito attraction. This suggests that the ratios of chemicals in a soap are extremely important for determining whether mosquitoes are attracted or repelled.
The researchers identified four chemicals associated with mosquito attraction and three associated with repulsion, including a coconut scent in American Bourbon and a floral compound used to treat scabies and lice. These compounds were combined to create and test attractive and repellent odor blends, which had a significant impact on mosquito preference. Vinauger went on to say.
“With these mixtures, we eliminated all the noise in the signal by only including those chemicals that the statistics indicated were important for attraction or repulsion. I would choose a coconut-scented soap if I wanted to reduce mosquito attraction,”
Vinauger plans to expand the research, testing more soap varieties and a larger number of people to find general patterns. The team is also interested in exploring how soap impacts mosquito preference over extended periods.
“We’re very curious to examine the duration of this effect. For example, if you take a shower in the morning, does it still affect mosquito attraction in the evening?”
Vinauger concludes.
“Understanding what attracts mosquitoes could lead to the development of better repellents, traps, and other deterrents.”
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