Sunday 24 March 2019

Zebra stripes confuse bloodsucking flies and could inspire anti-bug device


Sarah Knapton, science editor
20 FEBRUARY 2019 • 7:00PM
Rudyard Kipling supposed the zebra acquired its stripes so it could blend into the forest shadows, hidden away from the leopard and man.
But the markings also hold another advantage, scientists have discovered, after finding they disorientate bothersome bloodsucking horse flies.
Researchers at Bristol University used video analysis to test whether flies were more likely to attack zebra or non-striped horses at a stables in North Somerset.
They found that although flies circled and touched horses and zebras at similar rates, they actually landed on zebras 25 per cent less often.

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