SLU Study Links 27 Odor Compounds to Mosquito Attraction, With Pregnancy Raising Octenol
Updated
Updated · slu.se · May 18
SLU Study Links 27 Odor Compounds to Mosquito Attraction, With Pregnancy Raising Octenol
1 articles · Updated · slu.se · May 18
Forty-two women tested in an SLU-led study showed that mosquito attraction shifts with menstrual-cycle phase and pregnancy, adding a chemical explanation for why some people draw more bites than others.
Twenty-seven volatile compounds in body odor appeared to shape that attraction, with octenol — known as mushroom alcohol — found at higher levels in highly attractive participants and in pregnant women.
Synthetic scent blends built to mimic low, medium and high attractiveness produced matching mosquito behavior, suggesting mosquitoes respond to the overall odor mix rather than a single chemical alone.
The researchers said larger studies tracking people through full menstrual cycles and pregnancy are needed, along with comparisons with non-menstruating people and other mosquito species.
If pregnancy alters our scent to attract mosquitoes, what other biological secrets are we broadcasting?
Science has decoded the scent that attracts mosquitoes. Can it now make us invisible to them?
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