Is the mosquito repellent song that is popular on the Internet really effective?

Summer is here, and it’s time to “fight mosquitoes” again! Scientists never stop on this road!

In a study on mosquito control, scientific researchers actually used a piece of electronic music to reduce the appetite of mosquitoes and the frequency of biting people. Even under the "beautiful" music, the number of matings between female mosquitoes and males was reduced.

It's magical music, friends can listen to it, the melody is very catchy. So, is it true that a song can repel or even kill mosquitoes?

The researchers published their findings in the academic journal Acta Tropica, titled "The role of the electronic music songs Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites in reducing the aggressive behavior and mating success rate of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes."

Image source: ncbi

The study found that playing the electronic music "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" loudly through speakers does affect mosquitoes' judgment of prey to a certain extent, causing a significant decrease in the frequency of feeding and mating. The main reason is that compared to a quiet environment, high-pitched music with increasing frequency affects the sensory organs of female mosquitoes, making them abnormally excited and reducing their appetite. At the same time, the increase in the vibration frequency of female mosquitoes' wings will affect mating with male mosquitoes.

Image source: Reference 1

As soon as this news spread, some netizens immediately conducted a mosquito repellent test:

Image source: Xiaohongshu

However, some netizens also said:

Image source: Xiaohongshu

Friends who are interested can try it and share your experience in repelling mosquitoes with us in the comments. However, if we want to repel mosquitoes by sound, we still need to explore this path slowly. What we can do now is to develop corresponding mosquito prevention strategies based on the way mosquitoes find their targets.

01How do mosquitoes "find" you?

Female mosquitoes use smell, vision and temperature to sense the target, and then use a three-step process to accurately locate the target.

Mosquitoes come by "smell" and sense the carbon dioxide exhaled by people, and they can fly from far away.

When mosquitoes get close to their target, they tend to attack black based on their vision . At the same time, mosquitoes can quickly sense a variety of odors : sweat, lactic acid, perfume, etc., which will affect the mosquito's final decision on who to bite.

After the mosquito lands, at a closer distance, it can sense and lock onto targets with heat and moisture characteristics through its temperature sensing system, and then prefer to land in dark, humid and hot places.

Image source: Photo Network

02Mosquitoes still have their favorites

Black is the first choice for mosquitoes to attack;

Attractive odor molecules , such as a mixture of lactic acid, acetone, and dimethyl disulfide;

There is a heat-receiving body in the antennae, which is very sensitive to temperature. Mosquitoes like sweating people because their bodies dissipate heat quickly .

Image source: Photo Network

03 Anti-mosquito War

Now that we know how mosquitoes find their targets, can we find a way to prevent them?

(1) Use repellent when going out

When you go out, you can use some repellents to prevent mosquitoes. The main mechanism of action of mosquito repellent products is to repel mosquitoes by applying or spraying. The smell will not kill mosquitoes, but it will interfere with the mosquito's olfactory organs to varying degrees, making it temporarily unable to find "humans" or making mosquitoes feel uncomfortable and stay away from things with this smell.

Image source: Photo Network

(2) Indoor mosquito control and prevention

If you find mosquitoes indoors, you should try to kill or drive them away. When there are few mosquitoes, you can use physical tools such as electric mosquito swatters; when there are many mosquitoes, you can use chemical products such as mosquito coils, mosquito coil liquid and insecticide aerosols.

At the same time, mosquito-proof facilities should be installed indoors at home, such as screen doors and windows. If there are children, the elderly and pregnant women, it is better to choose mosquito nets.

Image source: Photo Network

(3) The best way is to eliminate it at the source

Removing stagnant water is the fundamental way to prevent mosquitoes , because mosquitoes are highly dependent on water sources for reproduction. If you manage all types of stagnant water around you, you won't "raise" mosquitoes.

▶ Found various mosquito breeding grounds◀

Regularly check for stagnant water points indoors and outdoors that may breed mosquitoes, including: checking garbage that can store water, such as glass bottles, empty cans and empty lunch boxes discarded indoors and outdoors at home; water storage containers, drainage ditches, depressions and uneven ground; vases and flower pots trays for growing aquatic plants; air conditioning trays, etc.

Image source: Photo Network

▶ Start clearing water ◀

If you find mosquitoes or mosquito breeding areas, take immediate action, including:

Dispose of garbage properly

Remove stagnant water (all kinds of containers that can accumulate water)

Place water storage containers (for collecting rainwater, watering flowers, etc.) upside down or cover them, and fill tree holes, bamboo holes and uneven ground with sand, mud or cement.

Remove garbage and fallen leaves from drains to prevent clogging

The water in the bottom of the flower pot and the vase should be emptied or replaced at least once a week

......

Image source: Photo Network

To fight mosquitoes, you need to know yourself and the enemy. Research on mosquitoes is still ongoing, and there will be endless high-tech mosquito repellent and mosquito killing products in the future. However, it is still recommended that everyone start with themselves, clear the stagnant water around them, and do not be a "breeder" of mosquitoes.

References

[1] Dieng H , Chuin TC , Satho T ,et al.The electronic song "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" reduces host attack and mating success in the dengue vector Aedes aegypti[J].Acta tropica, 2019.DOI:10.1016/j.actatropica.2019.03.027.

Author: Wang Fei, deputy chief physician, Shanghai Hongkou District Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Planning & Editing: Tiara

Source of title image: Reference [1]