Molecules: You'd better learn to live with them.
The other day, I was trying to hunt down a tool for the lab. The closest store with any decent complement of tools is one of those big-box stores, so off I went. Unfortunately, I tend to get distracted in the presence of more than a few choices. Somehow, I found myself in the camping aisle, picking up stuff off the rack to read what chemical was in it, and setting it back. A few minutes into doing this, I always wonder: do I look like a shoplifter, someone shopping for ingredients to whip up a fresh batch of drugs, or just a careful shopper? Then, I pulled out the camera phone to take some pictures, and I realized I probably just looked like your average weirdo putting together an internet article, which was the truth.
Thus we begin a series on camping products. First, octenol:
Octenol is a metabolite of lipids, and you're soaking in it. It's all over your skin and in your breath. Mosquitos are particularly sensitive (and attracted) to its odor, and it's been used in mosquito traps because of this.
Tomorrow, a brief side jaunt, then back to camping goods.
Physical Science
Life Science
Comments
The Asian mosquito is not as attracted to octenal, but rather to L(+)-Lactic acid (2-hydroxy propionic acid).
Posted by: John Spevacek | September 17, 2008 1:48 PM