3 ms·

I think the issue is that they wanted to first identify and test the idea first. If you add in humans, you have to find volunteers and then waivers because no o

I think the issue is that they wanted to first identify and test the idea first. If you add in humans, you have to find volunteers and then waivers because no one is really willing to hang around in the nude and get bit by horseflies for a day. As well for humans, you will have to consider demographical data and other data like gender, height, weight, body fat, in general how healthy the human is etc. which lead to even more questions. Using just the models can mitigate these concerns

ars 8y ago
Why do you have to be nude, or hang around? Just go about your day normally and count bites at the end.
- koolba 8y ago
  Seems like people covered head to toe with body paint would have a different “normal day” then the control group.
carlob 8y ago
I remember reading about some experiment involving mosquitoes and body odor, IIRC they were done behind a mosquito net. I seem to remember the takeaway was: wash your feet well.
- tim1994 8y ago
  Last year, the YouTube channel Veritasium did a video about it: https://youtube.com/watch?v=38gVZgE39K8 https://youtube.com/watch?v=38gVZgE39K8
twic 8y ago
> As well for humans, you will have to consider demographical data and other data like gender, height, weight, body fat, in general how healthy the human is etc. which lead to even more questions. You could control that out to an extent by painting half of each volunteer, and then comparing the number of bites on each side. Of course you'd want to randomise which side was painted, in case the insects prefer to bite one rather than the other.
- cududa 8y ago
  It’s unlikely the effect would work at all like that. Insects are certainly able to estimate the full figure, and with the hard break in stripes down the center the results would probably be tainted
mcv 8y ago
> If you add in humans, you have to find volunteers and then waivers because no one is > really willing to hang around in the nude and get bit by horseflies for a day. You'd be surprised. Naturist love hanging around nude in places where insect bites are a serious possibility. Not because of the insect bites of course. They just literally come with the territory. But if there was ever a demographic where this research would be very relevant, it's probably naturists.

ars 8y ago

Why do you have to be nude, or hang around? Just go about your day normally and count bites at the end.

koolba 8y ago
Seems like people covered head to toe with body paint would have a different “normal day” then the control group.

carlob 8y ago

I remember reading about some experiment involving mosquitoes and body odor, IIRC they were done behind a mosquito net. I seem to remember the takeaway was: wash your feet well.

tim1994 8y ago
Last year, the YouTube channel Veritasium did a video about it: https://youtube.com/watch?v=38gVZgE39K8 https://youtube.com/watch?v=38gVZgE39K8

twic 8y ago

> As well for humans, you will have to consider demographical data and other data like gender, height, weight, body fat, in general how healthy the human is etc. which lead to even more questions. You could control that out to an extent by painting half of each volunteer, and then comparing the number of bites on each side. Of course you'd want to randomise which side was painted, in case the insects prefer to bite one rather than the other.

cududa 8y ago
It’s unlikely the effect would work at all like that. Insects are certainly able to estimate the full figure, and with the hard break in stripes down the center the results would probably be tainted

mcv 8y ago

> If you add in humans, you have to find volunteers and then waivers because no one is > really willing to hang around in the nude and get bit by horseflies for a day. You'd be surprised. Naturist love hanging around nude in places where insect bites are a serious possibility. Not because of the insect bites of course. They just literally come with the territory. But if there was ever a demographic where this research would be very relevant, it's probably naturists.