Ant pheromones may help protect hikers and campers from ticks

If you're outside enjoying the spring sunshine, then chances are, ticks are too. However, new research from Simon Fraser University (SFU) suggests the use of ant pheromones as a topical repellent, or as an environmental barrier, ...

A natural, alternative insect repellent to DEET

Isolongifolenone, a natural compound found in the Tauroniro tree (Humiria balsamifera) of South America, has been found to effectively deter biting of mosquitoes and to repel ticks, both of which are known spreaders of diseases ...

Two studies identify new strategies for insect control

Mosquitoes spread several diseases, among them malaria and dengue virus. In 2020, about 241 million cases of malaria occurred worldwide, with a few more million cases occurring in 2021. Nearly half the world's population ...

Next-gen insect repellents to combat mosquito-borne diseases

Nearly 700 million people suffer from mosquito-borne diseases—such as malaria, West Nile, Zika and dengue fever—each year, resulting in more than 1 million deaths. Increasingly, many species of mosquitoes have become ...

Scientists discover how chemical repellants trip up insects

Fire up the citronella-scented tiki torches, and slather on the DEET: Everybody knows these simple precautions repel insects, notably mosquitoes, whose bites not only itch and irritate, but also transmit diseases such as ...

New mosquito repellents that work better than DEET

In the age-old battle against mosquitos, DEET has proven effective at keeping this nemesis at bay, but the repellent is smelly and its protection is short-lived. Now, researchers report in the Journal of Agricultural and ...

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