Mosquitoes have less sex, bite less, and suck less blood when forced to listen to Skrillex

While Skrillex may be a hit with dubstep enthusiasts, the yellow fever mosquito certainly isn't a fan. According to a study in Acta Tropica, sound is central to the survival of many species' populations — including mosquitoes — and is of particular importance when it comes to their reproductive abilities. An international research team wanted to investigate the effects of electronic music on the foraging, host attack, and sexual activities of the yellow fever mosquito. "Both males and females produce sounds through the beating of their wings," said the researchers. "For successful mating to occur, the male must harmonize its flight tone with that of its partner using auditory sensitivity." "In insects, low-frequency vibrations facilitate sexual interactions," said the study — higher-pitched noises, on the other hand, can disrupt this activity. Mosquitoes were placed in two different sound environments — one where the Skrillex song "Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites" was playing and one in which nothing played. The scientists observed differences between the "music-on" environment and the "music-off" environment — they looked at host visitation, blood feeding frequency, as well as mating patterns. Those female mosquitoes that had been exposed to Skrillex were less likely to engage in sex and to attack — that is, to suck a host's blood — than those who hadn't. Furthermore, females that had been kept in the "music-on" environment took longer to attack hosts than those in the silent environment, also attacking hosts much less frequently. The results of the study are particularly interesting in the context of infectious diseases. The measure shouldn't really be considered an alternative to traditional preventative methods for dangerous insect-borne diseases such as malaria and Zika virus — particularly when it comes to those situated in tropical or subtropical parts of the world. That said, it's a slightly more environmentally friendly measure you might want to try out in the US or in Europe as, fortunately, the yellow fever mosquito is far less of a risk there.

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