Overview
- Researchers published a Journal of Experimental Biology paper on May 28 reporting that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes trained in the lab to associate the smell of DEET with a food reward later approached and tried to bite DEET sources in tests.
- In controlled trials investigators used Pavlovian-style conditioning that paired DEET exposure with warm blood or sugar and found more than 60% of trained insects attempted to feed when presented with DEET alone.
- The experiments used lab-bred Aedes aegypti, artificial feeders and mesh barriers that kept mosquitoes from landing, and the authors warn these specific conditions limit how directly the results translate to wild populations.
- Study leaders and outlets uniformly say DEET remains an effective repellent for public health and advise people to follow product instructions, including reapplying as directed and being mindful of treated clothing.
- The finding reframes repellency as shaped by mosquito sensory learning and prompts follow-up work on memory duration, neural mechanisms, other species, and field studies to assess any real-world effect on disease risk.