Garlic repels mosquitoes and prevents them from mating or laying eggs. The compound diallyl disulfide is responsible for these effects. This provides a scientific basis for a belief held for centuries.
Garlic has been considered a natural mosquito repellent for centuries. Its pungent smell is believed to drive away the insects that transmit diseases such as dengue fever and malaria.
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Researchers from institutions including Sweden's Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) have discovered why certain women, especially pregnant ones, attract mosquitoes. They identified 27 chemical compounds in scent samples, with octenol playing a key role. The finding could improve mosquito traps and repellents.
Scientists from Georgia Tech and MIT have developed a mathematical model explaining how female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes navigate to humans. The study shows insects respond independently to dark visual cues and carbon dioxide rather than following each other. Findings could improve mosquito traps and disease control.
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Dry winters and springs continue to suppress mosquito populations in Sweden. Researchers at the National Veterinary Institute predict another season with unusually few mosquitoes.
Scientists have discovered that snow flies, small wingless insects, produce antifreeze proteins and generate their own body heat to remain active in subfreezing temperatures as low as -6 degrees Celsius. Researchers at Northwestern University sequenced the insects' genome for the first time, revealing unusual genes and reduced sensitivity to cold pain. The findings, published March 24 in Current Biology, offer insights into adaptations for extreme cold.
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Researchers have modified bacteria to manufacture gadusol, a UV-protective substance found in fish eggs. The advance could support development of transparent, eco-friendly sunscreens. The work was led by a team at Jiangnan University in China.
Researchers have discovered that distantly related butterflies and moths have used the same two genes, ivory and optix, for more than 120 million years to create similar warning colors on their wings. This finding suggests evolution can follow predictable genetic pathways rather than being entirely random. The study focused on species from South American rainforests.
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A hybrid population of honeybees in Southern California demonstrates natural resistance to Varroa mites, a major threat to bee colonies. Researchers at UC Riverside found these bees carry 68% fewer mites and require far less chemical treatment. The discovery, detailed in a new study, suggests early-life defenses in larvae may hold the key.