Mammals repel mosquitoes with their tails.
Abstract: The swinging of a mammal's tail has long been thought to deter biting insects, which, in cows, can drain up to 0.3 liters of blood per day. How effective is a mammal's tail at repelling insects? In this combined experimental and theoretical study, we filmed horses, zebras, elephants, giraffes and dogs swinging their tails. The tail swings at triple the frequency of a gravity-driven pendulum, and requires 27 times more power input. Tails can also be used like a whip to directly strike at insects. This whip-like effect requires substantial torques from the base of the tail on the order of 10-10 N m, comparable to the torque of a sedan, but still within the physical limits of the mammal. Based on our findings, we designed and built a mammal tail simulator to simulate the swinging of the tail. The simulator generates mild breezes of 1 m s, comparable to a mosquito's flight speed, and sufficient to deter up to 50% of mosquitoes from landing. This study may help us determine new mosquito-repelling strategies that do not depend on chemicals.
© 2018. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.
Publication Date: 2018-10-15 PubMed ID: 30323113DOI: 10.1242/jeb.178905Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- Non-P.H.S.
Summary
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This study investigates the efficiency of mammals’ tail movements in repelling insects, particularly mosquitoes, guided by experimental and theoretical methods. The researchers also developed a mammal tail simulator based on their findings, which could stimulate the development of alternative mosquito deterring solutions not reliant on chemicals.
Methods and Observations
- The scientists carried out observational and experimental studies of various mammals, including horses, zebras, elephants, giraffes, and dogs. They filmed these animals as they swung their tails, presumably in response to biting insects.
- The team noted the animals’ tail movements were triple the frequency of a gravity-driven pendulum and required about 27 times more power. Thus, suggesting a significant amount of energy invested by various mammals to ward off nuisance insects.
- Additionally, the scientists observed that the tails could be utilized in a manner similar to a whip, striking at the insects directly. The research found that the torques, or force causing rotation, from the base of the tail comparatively matches the torque of a sedan. Still, it remains within the physical capabilities of the mammal.
The Mammal Tail Simulator
- Based on the findings, the researchers designed and constructed a mammal tail simulator to mimic the tail-swinging action.
- The simulator generated winds with a speed of 1 m/s, a rate similar to the flight speed of a mosquito.
- The created breezes were found to deter up to 50% of mosquitoes from landing, indicating the potential efficiency of mammal tail movements in repelling mosquitoes.
Implications of the Study
- This research has provided new insights into how different mammals use their tails to repel biting insects, contributing to understanding within zoology and animal behavior studies.
- The findings from this study may pave the way for the development of new mosquito-repelling strategies that don’t rely on chemicals. The mechanical deterrent, inspired by mammal tail movements, could serve as an innovative and eco-friendly alternative in mosquito prevention efforts.
Cite This Article
APA
Matherne ME, Cockerill K, Zhou Y, Bellamkonda M, Hu DL.
(2018).
Mammals repel mosquitoes with their tails.
J Exp Biol, 221(Pt 20), jeb178905.
https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.178905 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA hu@me.gatech.edu.
- School of Biology, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Air Movements
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Mammals / physiology
- Movement
- Tail / physiology
Conflict of Interest Statement
Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests.
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Wynne NE, Chandrasegaran K, Fryzlewicz L, Vinauger C. Visual threats reduce blood-feeding and trigger escape responses in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes.. Sci Rep 2022 Dec 9;12(1):21354.
- Paslaru AI, Maurer LM, Vögtlin A, Hoffmann B, Torgerson PR, Mathis A, Veronesi E. Putative roles of mosquitoes (Culicidae) and biting midges (Culicoides spp.) as mechanical or biological vectors of lumpy skin disease virus.. Med Vet Entomol 2022 Sep;36(3):381-389.
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