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Mosquitoes Learn to Bite DEET-Sprayed Hands, Study Finds

5/28/2026

24 3 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

On May 28, 2026, Clément Vinauger’s Virginia Tech team reported that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can learn to link DEET with a blood meal.
They trained mosquitoes by feeding them in clean air then adding DEET.
In tests, trained mosquitoes bite a DEET-sprayed hand while untrained ones avoid it.
Neuroscientist Anandasankar Ray said mosquitoes detect DEET by smell rather than merely masking odor.
Vinauger affirmed DEET remains the gold-standard repellent.

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Story summary

On May 28, 2026, Clément Vinauger’s Virginia Tech team reported that Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can learn to link DEET with a blood meal.
They trained mosquitoes by feeding them in clean air then adding DEET.
In tests, trained mosquitoes bite a DEET-sprayed hand while untrained ones avoid it.
Neuroscientist Anandasankar Ray said mosquitoes detect DEET by smell rather than merely masking odor.
Vinauger affirmed DEET remains the gold-standard repellent.