Methyl jasmonate is a plant-derived compound that blocks mosquito carbon dioxide receptors. What would you expect to happen if you applied this compound to your skin and then exposed yourself to a swarm of mosquitos?
A) The mosquitos would be repelled and fly as far away as possible from you.
B) The mosquitos would lack an important piece of sensory information for finding a host, and so would be less likely to bite you.
C) You would be a more attractive host for the mosquitos.
D) There would be no difference in the behaviour of the mosquitos; they rely on visual cues to find their hosts.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Methyl jasmonate blocks mosquito carbon dioxide receptors, which are an important sensory cue for finding a host. Therefore, if applied to the skin, the compound would make it harder for the mosquitos to find a host and be less likely to bite. However, it is important to note that this does not completely repel mosquitos, and other sensory cues such as visual cues and body heat are still important for them to find a host.

Methyl Jasmonate Is a Plant-Derived Compound That Blocks Mosquito Carbon