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An aqueous surfactant solution will suffocate any insect to which it's applied, not just mosquitoes. This has long been well known and there is nothing novel he
by throwanem 3y ago
An aqueous surfactant solution will suffocate any insect to which it's applied, not just mosquitoes. This has long been well known and there is nothing novel here, although I'm sure they'll find some excuse for a patent application.
- hinkley 3y agoIt’s up there with sprinkling diatomaceous earth like pixie dust. It’s razor wire for all insects.
- amluto 3y agoFish often don’t like surfactants either. There is a wide range of degrees to which surfactants persist in the environment. AIUI, good old SLS degrades quite quickly. On the opposite end of the spectrum, PFOS and PFOA are extremely persistent. A homemade mix of dish soap and water kills all manner of insects and other arthropods. None of this is new.
- genewitch 3y agoIPA (isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol) kills nearly every insect, too. It doesn't kill centipedes, though - at all. It just makes them angry. (nearly) Anything else a square hit with a spray bottle or spritzer is enough to cause death, within minutes if not seconds.
- NoZebra120vClip 3y agoI found this out the hard way. When my sister and I were young, there was a carnival nearby, and they had some sort of ball toss game where you could win a goldfish. So we both won our goldfish and took them home in the tiny globe aquariums. I can't remember what happened to my fish, but I think it was out of the picture quickly. My sister's fish was named "Goldie" and, having a scientific mind, I was curious what would happen to the surface tension of the water in there if I dropped a fingernail of soap into it. Well, Goldie immediately said "feeding time!" and gulped down the soap. I snuck away, and eventually heard my sister cry "Goldie's Dead?!" from our room, and I think I eventually had to 'fess up.