Summer is back in Europe: full of sun, long days and… mosquitoes. The small winged parasites, which I love like the dentist's drill (but at least that's for a good purpose), are a torment for anyone, even for animal rights activists, and on and on. In the past they have tried them all: GMO moths and “femicide”, electric guns… even anti mosquito tv. Nada. But fear not, fellow readers: a team of Israeli scientists may have found the answer to our eternal fight against mosquitoes.
Naturally effective
Our hero is called “chemical camouflage”. It's a compound made from natural ingredients that could be the key to repelling these itchy and sometimes deadly beasts. The scientists of Hebrew University in Israel they claim that their formula is able to keep away from the human body 99% of mosquitoes. If the results are as promising as they seem, we may be on the verge of a major victory in our battle against these little vampires.
How does the anti-mosquito "chemical disguise" work?
It's really very simple. The compound "blocks" the emanation of that component of the skin odor that usually attracts mosquitoes, thus avoiding acting as a decoy. It does not aim to exterminate them, essentially, but to keep them at a safe distance and to reduce (even drastically) their reproduction in the vicinity of those who use the compound. Its formula is slow-release to guarantee prolonged protection. How it's done? A combination of two natural components: indole, a fragrant substance present in flowers, and cellulose, a polymer. In tests carried out by researchers, applying a thin layer of this formula to the skin even reduced egg deposition after exposure by 99,4%.
A future without mosquitoes?
In summary, this innovation (the study of which was published in PLOS, you can find it here) not only could free us from annoying summer stings, but it could also help control their population. A summer without mosquitoes may no longer be a distant dream, but a reality within reach. I can't wait to see what happens in the next chapter of this exciting scientific saga, and in the meantime don't ask me about prices and stores: it's not on sale yet!
