Sensory coding of borneol repellency in culicine mosquitoes via the Or49 pathway
3 institutional releases
Published in Nature Communications · View the paper (DOI)
Researchers have identified the specific smell receptor that causes mosquitoes to avoid borneol, a natural compound found in camphor tree oils. Activating this receptor triggers a neural pathway leading to avoidance behavior, offering potential strategies for designing more targeted and effective mosquito repellents.
Coverage from 3 institutions
- Cannabis essential oils unlock how camphor repels mosquitoes - new study The Hebrew University of Jerusalem · Feb 24, 2026 · first to report
- How mosquitoes “smell” danger and why it matters Baylor University · Mar 10, 2026
- A built-in warning system: How mosquitoes detect a common compound in plant-based mosquito repellent University of Washington · Mar 16, 2026