![]() The results were startling: the dark-skinned mannequin was 10 times more attractive to horseflies than the striped model and twice as attractive than the light-skinned dummy. They then stuck them in the middle of a meadow for 8 weeks in summer, and counted the number of horseflies and other biting insects each one attracted. They used 3 shop mannequins – one with dark skin, one with lighter skin, and a dark-skinned model painted with white stripes – and coated each with a thin layer of adhesive to capture creepy crawlies. It is known that zebras get bitten far less than animals with a single fur color, so a team of researchers decided to see if the light stripes painted on humans would have a similar deterrent effect. Traditionally mixed from clay, chalk, ash and cattle dung, the white or gray paint is widely thought to help individuals moderate body heat in soaring bush and savanna temperatures.īut scientists now believe that the striking striped patterns also slash the amount of biting insects attracted to the naked flesh of people living in Nature. ![]() ![]() Tribes in Africa, Australia and southeast Asia have practiced body painting in cultural ceremonies for generations. PARIS, France – Traditional white-striped body painting practiced by indigenous communities mimics zebra stripes to reduce the number of potentially harmful horsefly bites a person receives by up to 10-fold, according to new research published Wednesday, January 16.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |