‘Bangor Daily News’ article cites UNE study on mosquito control
On June 11, 2015, the Bangor Daily News published an article about mosquitoes that referenced a 2012 study by the University of New England.
"Why mosquitoes are drawn to you and what Maine researchers say you can do about it" discussed factors that make certain people more attractive to mosquitoes, such as blood type and body temperature.
The article also described some of the actions taken by a UNE group led by Noah Perlut, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Environmental Studies, to ward off the pests on the Biddeford Campus.
One such effort was the strategic location of mosquito-repellent plants by UNE’s lead landscaper and certified master gardener Phil Taschereau.
Mints, citronella, sweet fern and monarda flowers release oils that mosquitoes dislike. "If students just rub these plants as they’re coming or going from these buildings, it releases the oils into the air and gets it onto their skin," Taschereau explained.
The article described an experiment to examine the effectiveness of the plants, using student Sam Fields as a test subject.