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Cited by 334Insect Pest Control StrategiesNeurobiology and Insect Physiology ResearchInsect Pheromone Research and Control

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 28 of the 33 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Mosquitoes smell and avoid the insect repellent DEET

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Syed, Zainulabeuddin, Leal, Walter S.·2008·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
DOI 10.1073/pnas.0805312105PMC PMC2518096
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Abstract

The insect repellent DEET is effective against a variety of medically important pests, but its mode of action still draws considerable debate. The widely accepted hypothesis that DEET interferes with the detection of lactic acid has been challenged by demonstrated DEET-induced repellency in the absence of lactic acid. The most recent hypothesis suggests that DEET masks or jams the olfactory system by attenuating electrophysiological responses to 1-octen-3-ol. Our research shows that mosquitoes smell DEET directly and avoid it. We performed single-unit recordings from all functional ORNs on the antenna and maxillary palps of Culex quinquefasciatus and found an ORN in a short trichoid sensillum responding to DEET in a dose-dependent manner. The same ORN responded with higher sensitivity to terpenoid compounds. SPME and GC analysis showed that odorants were trapped in conventional stimulus cartridges upon addition of a DEET-impregnated filter paper strip thus leading to the observed reduced electrophysiological responses, as reported elsewhere. With a new stimulus delivery method releasing equal amounts of 1-octen-3-ol alone or in combination with DEET we found no difference in neuronal responses. When applied to human skin, DEET altered the chemical profile of emanations by a “fixative” effect that may also contribute to repellency. However, the main mode of action is the direct detection of DEET as indicated by the evidence that mosquitoes are endowed with DEET-detecting ORNs and corroborated by behavioral bioassays. In a sugar-feeding assay, both female and male mosquitoes avoided DEET. In addition, mosquitoes responding only to physical stimuli avoided DEET.

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Research works printed but not linked: 4

  1. WS Leal Insect repellents: Principles, Methods, and Uses, eds M Debboun, SP Frances, D Strickman (CRC, Boca Raton, FL), pp. 229–242 (2007).
  2. RB Bernier, DL Kline, KH Posey Insect repellents: Principles, methods, and uses, eds M Debboun, SP Frances, D Strickman (CRC, Boca Raton, FL), pp. 77–100 (2007).
  3. JM Govere, DN Durrheim Insect repellents: Principles, Methods, and Uses, eds M Debboun, SP Frances, D Strickman (CRC, Boca Raton, FL), pp. 147–159 (2007).
  4. RK Gupta, AK Bhattacharjee Insect repellents: Principles, Methods, and Uses, eds M Debboun, SP Frances, D Strickman (CRC, Boca Raton, FL), pp. 195–228 (2007).

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Metadata

Authors
Syed, Z., & Leal, W. S.
Affiliations
University of Arizona (US)
Corresponding author
Leal, Walter S.
ORCID
Syed, Zainulabeuddin
Venue
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publisher
National Academy of Sciences
Published
2008-09-09
Volume
105
Issue
36
Pages
13598-13603
ISSN
  • 0027-8424 (ISSN-L)
  • 1091-6490
DOI
10.1073/pnas.0805312105
PMC
PMC2518096
OpenAlex
W2163645458
Cited by
334
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 35 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 20 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 22 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 20 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 33 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 19
FWCI
22.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • University of California, Davis
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (1U01AI05826-01)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Insect Pest Control Strategies
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Insect Pheromone Research and Control
Keywords
DEET, mosquito repellents, olfactory sensory neurons, Culex quinquefasciatus, olfactory avoidance, 1-octen-3-ol, terpenoids, olfactory sensilla, mosquito olfaction, mechanism of action
MeSH terms
Animals, Avoidance Learning, Biological Assay, DEET, Female, Humans, Insect Repellents, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Male, Middle Aged, Culicidae, Odorants, Oxygen, Physical Stimulation, Smell

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