Georgia Tech News Center

A new study shows how animals use their tails to keep mosquitoes at bay by combining a swish that blows away most of the biting bugs and a swat that kills

How Animals Use Their Tails to Swish and Swat Away Insects

By Jason Maderer October 17, 2018

An adult elephant weighs in at nearly five tons. Its peskiest threat is a fraction of that. But in order for a pachyderm to slap away a tiny mosquito once it lands on its backside, an elephant must generate the same amount of torque it takes to accelerate a car. 

That’s one finding in a new Georgia Tech study that looked at how animals use their tails to keep mosquitoes at bay. The researchers also discovered that mammals swish the tips of their tails at a velocity of one meter per second, nearly the same speed as a mosquito flies.

>> How the study could help engineers make better mosquito-repelling products

Spotlight

Leadership Search Committees Announced

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Campus and Community

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Leadership Search Committees Announced

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Stronger Together

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Go 'Back in Time' with Virtual Campus Tour

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Institute Reminds Employees of Political Campaign Involvement Policies

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Using Visuals to Help Tell a Story: Meet Ximin Mi
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Science and Technology

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How Animals Use Their Tails to Swish and Swat Away Insects

A new study shows how animals use their tails to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Microfluidic Molecular Exchanger Helps Control Therapeutic Cell Manufacturing

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Genomic Study of 412 Anthrax Strains Provides New Virulence Clues

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Control System Simulator Helps Operators Learn to Fight Hackers

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Georgia Tech Creates Cybersecurity Master’s Degree Online for Less Than $10,000

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Emory and Georgia Tech researchers recently received a $200,000 Technological Innovations in Neuroscience Award from the McKnight Foundation
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Business and Economic Development

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The Business of Medicine: Georgia Tech and Morehouse School of Medicine Prescribe a Joint MD/MBA Degree

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Earth and Environment

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Astrobiology Rising at Georgia Tech

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Eclipse Reflections from the Experts

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Society and Culture

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Georgia Tech Places 34th in World University Ranking

A new study ranks Georgia Tech 34th among world universities.
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Dr. Isbell Goes to Washington – Again – to Discuss Artificial Intelligence

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MLK Lecture Keynote Speaker Joy-Ann Reid Shares Insights on the Past, Present, and Future of Nonviolent Political Protest

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Disclosing Weaknesses Can Undermine Some Workplace Relationships

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Georgia Tech's Racing Roots, Part 2: The Need for Speed

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Robot Uses Deep Learning and Big Data to Write and Play Its Own Music

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Social Media Study Identifies Mental Health Culture at Top-Ranked Campuses

Using social media, researchers create a mental health index for country's top-ranked colleges.

HEALTH AND MEDICINE

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Summer Lab Experience Helps Launch Industry and Research Careers

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New Health Economics Lab and $3.3 Million in Funding Coming to Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts

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STAMI Researchers have created a material derived from crab shells and tree fibers that has the potential to replace the flexible plastic packaging...
As We Get Parched, Cognition Can Sputter, Dehydration Study Says

Summer heat fuzzing your concentration? Making you fumble? It may be dehydration.
Technique May Improve Lung Delivery of Bacteria-Killing Phage
Technique May Improve Lung Delivery of Bacteria-Killing Phage

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MIT Technology Review Applauds Georgia Tech’s Dahlman in ‘35 Innovators Under 35’

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Aircraft Microbiome Much Like That of Homes and Offices, Study Finds

Researchers have conducted what may be the first study of the aircraft microbiome.
I Saw That. Brain Mechanisms Create Confidence About Things Seen

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Bacterial Conversations in Cystic Fibrosis

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In Child-Crippling Mucolipidosis IV, Drug Shows Hope in Lab Cultures

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Study Shows How Bacteria Behave Differently in Humans Compared to the Lab

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Robot Teaches Itself How to Dress People

A robot at the Georgia Institute of Technology is successfully sliding hospital gowns on people's arms
Uncovering a Hidden Protein “Tail” that Puts the Brakes on Cell Signaling

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BME Team Takes Home Top Capstone Honors

Kit Cath and other winners find success by reducing waste, cost, and improving efficiency for sponsors
Remote-Control Shoots Laser at Nano-Gold to Turn on Cancer-Killing Immune Cells

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TECH IN THE NEWS

Feature Stories

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This Month in Photos: September 2018
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Featured Videos

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Meet Ximin Mi

Located in the heart of Georgia Tech's campus, the Van Leer Interdisciplinary Design Commons was converted from an auditorium to the largest electronics-oriented makerspace in the United States.