Courtesy of the National Pest Management Association
This is, ultimately, a feminist site. So here’s the weekly In Defence of Hairy Legs etc. post.
Scientists in Sheffield have brushed away* the popular belief that the less body hair, the more hygienic a person is. In fact body hair might be a deter bed bugs from biting.
Using 29 volunteers Professor Michael Siva-Jothy, from Sheffield University's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, observed bed bugs search for a place to feed on the shaven arms of the volunteers.
Scientists in Sheffield have brushed away* the popular belief that the less body hair, the more hygienic a person is. In fact body hair might be a deter bed bugs from biting.
Using 29 volunteers Professor Michael Siva-Jothy, from Sheffield University's Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, observed bed bugs search for a place to feed on the shaven arms of the volunteers.
Professor Siva-Jothy found that layers of longer visible hairs created a dense jungle the bugs found hard to navigate. In addition the finer hairs, which are attached to nerves, acted as an early warning system.
"Our findings show that more body hairs mean better detection of parasites - the hairs have nerves attached to them and provide us with the ability to detect displacement."
However these findings do not mean men, who tend to be more hirsute, are less bitten than women. Insects have adapted to automatically head for hairless parts of the body such as wrists and ankles. It does give clues as to why we retain the finer hairs.
"Our proposal is that we retain the fine covering because it aids detection and if we lost all hair, even the relatively invisible fine hair, our detection ability goes right down."
In the UK the number of bed bug infestations has risen suddenly. So maybe lay off the waxing a while and enjoy the benefits of added warmth and pest control.
*I slay me
Kate
"Our findings show that more body hairs mean better detection of parasites - the hairs have nerves attached to them and provide us with the ability to detect displacement."
However these findings do not mean men, who tend to be more hirsute, are less bitten than women. Insects have adapted to automatically head for hairless parts of the body such as wrists and ankles. It does give clues as to why we retain the finer hairs.
"Our proposal is that we retain the fine covering because it aids detection and if we lost all hair, even the relatively invisible fine hair, our detection ability goes right down."
In the UK the number of bed bug infestations has risen suddenly. So maybe lay off the waxing a while and enjoy the benefits of added warmth and pest control.
*I slay me
Kate
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