Comments on: Buttery perfume deters mosquitoes by overloading their sense of smell

By: Janet

Janet — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 22:04:37 +0000

I hope the negative comments up there are really just jokes. Turner and Li are heros of the stature of those working on cures for cancer and heart disease. We should be throwing money and resources at them for finally working toward an eradication of these terrorists! I’m sick of hearing people say that if you wipe out mosquitos it will effect the whole eco system. There is nothing beneficial that eats mosquitos that lacks other sources of food or can’t adapt to non-biting insects. I’m also sick of hearing that chemical solutions will cause cancer or birth defects, etc. Turner and Li’s solution appears to be harmless. If one in a trillion persons gets cancer from it, too bad – the thousands they will save will be more than worth it and I feel that way even if I were that one person in a trillion. You go Turner and Li, may god be with you!

By: Marnie

Marnie — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 21:56:23 +0000

It seems that mosquitoes cannot make their own cholesterol, lactic acid or uric acid. So it stands to reason that people who have low cholesterol, and are lactose intolerant would not get bitten. Like myself. Woo Hoo

By: Joe Marfice

Joe Marfice — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 20:41:40 +0000

Cathy: “I wonder if any of those chemicals were ever used in Avon’s SkinSoSoft? It has long been believed to be a mosquito repellent among Avon users.”

Belief != reality, and in this case, SkinSoSoft has been rather conclusively proven to be worthless as an insect repellant in laboratory tests.

By: Daisy

Daisy — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 04:58:10 +0000

Does it work if I put a piece of cheese in my bedroom?

By: Brian Too

Brian Too — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 00:27:38 +0000

@1. Jenny,

First thing I thought too! In order to repel mosquitoes, you have to attract bears. Bad trade, very bad!

By: david

david — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 19:34:16 +0000

My wife’s family’s female members (maybe some males) are never or rarely bitten (sucked on?–oops forget it!) by mosquitoes. These researchers ought to contact us and check the wife’s and relateds breath.

By: aubri

aubri — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 00:40:40 +0000

Interesting. I just read about another chemical, nootkatone, which is found in Alaska yellow cedar trees and citrus fruit, and is apparently much safer than the chemical mentioned above and it’s being developed by the CDC as a natural bug repellant, for mosquitos as well as ticks, lice etc. And rather than movie popcorn, it smells like grapefruit, which is an added bonus, imho. http://www.npr.org/2011/04/18/135468567/repelling-bugs-with-the-essence-of-grapefruit

By: Ben

Ben — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 19:15:00 +0000

I think I may conduct an experiment with this on my own. If this stuff is used in popcorn, maybe try popping a few bags and leaving them around when I am cooking outside next time.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 17:16:03 +0000

I wonder if any of those chemicals were ever used in Avon’s SkinSoSoft? It has long been believed to be a mosquito repellent among Avon users.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 16:40:29 +0000

With a cheese/popcorn smell, I am wondering if this repellent will attract larger predators, such as Alaskan bears or African lions.