Ready for stripes?

[balzaccom]

We loved this story about how the stripes on zebras repel biting flies. Now if it will only work on mosquitoes, we're ready to paint up!

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2019/02/21/scientists-just-solved-the-mystery-of-why-zebras-have-stripes-by-making-horses-wear-zebra-costumes/#76a0ddb05234

 

[Rockskipper]

I see a market here for some entrepreneur to make striped horse blankets. And hows about striped jackets and pants and such for people in areas with deer, horse, and black flies? And I thought bug jackets looked funny. I wonder if different colors have diff effects.

"This reduced ability to land on the zebra's coat may be due to stripes disrupting the visual system of the horse flies during their final moments of approach."

 

[LarryBoy]

I'm kind of tempted to buy some terrible zebra-striped clothing and douse it in permetherin, just to see if it works. Hardly scientific but it's worth a shot!

 

[Bob]

Mosquitoes over here never see zebras....so shouldn't work

 

[LarryBoy]

Mosquitoes over here never see zebras....so shouldn't work

Per the article, it's not that the bugs are warned off by the zebra striped, but rather that it confuses their vision/recognition. So I can't imagine that not having seen a zebra would impact whether or not it works on mosquitoes.