
Mosquito mouthparts can easily penetrate most fine tissues
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Thin fabrics that block mosquito bites have been developed by experimenting with patterns made by knitting machines.
John Beckman at Auburn University in Alabama set out to create bite-resistant clothing after clothes he bought for a canoe trip failed to protect him. “I got eaten alive,” he said.
Any clothing thicker than the length of a mosquito’s proboscis will prevent bites, Beckmann says, but such clothing is not suitable for hot climates where mosquitoes usually thrive.
His team started by testing the bite…