- Mosquitoes can learn to like certain smells.
- Many people use DEET each summer to stop mosquito bites.
- Scientists gave mosquitoes warm blood to eat.
- They added the smell of DEET nearby.
- After training, mosquitoes went to the DEET smell.
- Trained mosquitoes chose the hand with DEET.
- The same happened when sugar was used.
- Researchers say people should keep using DEET.
- They advise reapplying DEET regularly on skin.
Difficult words
- mosquito — a small flying insect that bites peopleMosquitoes
- bite — when an insect makes your skin hurtbites
- train — to teach an animal or insect to do somethingtraining, Trained
- smell — the odor you notice with your nosesmells
- researcher — a person who studies things to learn factsResearchers
- reapply — to put a product on again after the first timereapplying
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you use insect repellent in summer?
- Have you ever been bitten by a mosquito?
- How often do you reapply repellent or spray?
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