At the American Chemical Society's meeting in Indianapolis, researchers described a group of compounds that could block mosquitoes' ability to smell potential targets. "Repellents have been the mainstay for preventing mosquito bites.

The most widely used repellent, DEET, is quite effective and has been in use for a long time. However, some people don't like the feel or the smell of DEET," said researcher Ulrich Bernier of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).