HOTTER temperatures may render natural insect repellents less effective against mosquitoes, researchers from Ohio State University recently discovered.
The study, published in the journal Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, found that a pain receptor called TRPA1 (or 'wasabi receptor') becomes less sensitive in mosquitoes when exposed to heat.
This means that the chemical cues that usually trigger insect avoidance behaviours don't activate as strongly.
"What we found was that the chemicals were not able to activate the mosquito wasabi receptor as effectively when temperatures exceeded the heat activation threshold," explained co-author of the paper, Peter Piermarini.
"So the mosquito would find certain repellents less irritating in hotter weather."
The authors also found that conventional synthetic repellents are more effective on hot days, compared to a natural product containing citronella or catnip oil.
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