Playing Dance Music Can Help Ward Off Mosquitoes
WouterWhether you’re on vacation or just hanging out at your favorite party, playing dance music can help ward off mosquitoes. Scientists have been investigating how music affects the mating and feeding habits of insects. Some species of insects are particularly sensitive to sound waves.
Specifically, researchers studied the effects of a song by dubstep artist Skrillex, which combines high and low frequencies. The results suggest that this kind of music may help ward off mosquitoes, reducing the number of bites.
According to researchers, mosquitoes reacted to the vibrations of the Skrillex song by having less buzzing around them. As a result, they were distracted and made fewer feeding attempts.
As part of the study, the team exposed female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes to two different environments. The first environment was a noise-free one, while the second was a music-filled environment.
The team found that female adult mosquitoes that were exposed to dubstep music made fewer attacks on their hosts, and had a reduced tendency to copulate. However, it was the noisy EDM that had the biggest effect on their mating.
The song, titled “Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites”, is a mix of bass drops and loud sounds. The noise in the track disrupts the perception of the signals sent by the host, which reduces the success of insect predator mating.
Another study examined the effects of electronic music on the mating habits of the dengue vector Aedes aegypti. The researchers were curious to see how a song would impact mosquitoes. They compared the effects of the Skrillex song to those of no music at all. The resulting findings could have important implications for public health.
