Can mosquitoes adapt to insect repellents?
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New research suggests that some mosquitoes may become less sensitive to certain insect repellents over time and could even develop an attraction to them after repeated exposure. While repellents remain an important tool for preventing mosquito bites and reducing the spread of mosquito-borne diseases, these findings highlight the remarkable adaptability of insects and the need for ongoing research to improve mosquito control strategies. Ongoing research may help guide the development of next-generation repellents that remain effective against evolving mosquito populations.
Source
Claudio R. Lazzari, David De Luca, Ayelén Nally, Charly Dufour, Clément Vinauger; Associative learning switches DEET valence from aversive to appetitive in Aedes aegypti. J Exp Biol 15 May 2026; 229 (10): jeb251935. doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.251935
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