Biol Lett June 2012 PMID 22171023

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection.

Isabelle Dean, Michael T Siva-Jothy

Mentions

25
Peak: 8 in Jun 2023
across 7 sources since Jan 2020

Extended reach

29,430
potential audience

Total likes

30

Video views

4,998

Mentions per month

Jan 2020 – Nov 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • News7 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Blogs2 articles
  • Bluesky1 posts
  • Reddit1 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The collective discussions reflect a balanced interest in the scientific findings, with several posts mentioning the practical advantages of body hair in parasite detection and noting scientific validation, while others comment on related topics like military or social contexts. The tone remains generally curious and supportive, emphasizing the relevance and implications of the research.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most discussions acknowledge the scientific findings, with some explicitly noting the benefits of body hair in detecting parasites.

InterestModerate interest

Posters show moderate curiosity, referencing the research and expressing intrigue about the implications, though not deeply exploring the topic.

EngagementModerate engagement

There is some engagement through comments on the relevance and implications, such as military advantages or biological curiosities.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight that the findings are noteworthy, with some recognizing potential applications or societal significance.

Abstract in brief

  • Human body has fine hair, called vellus and terminal hair, which is dense despite humans being relatively less hairy than other primates.
  • The study tested whether this fine body hair helps humans detect ectoparasites like bed bugs.
  • Results indicate that fine body hair helps in parasite detection by increasing the time parasites spend searching and making them easier to find.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
ありーちぇ
@ALC_V · X

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection - PMC ヒトの細い体毛が外部寄生虫(トコジラミ)に対する防御機能を担っているという仮説を実験的に検証する。細い体毛は、(i)寄生虫の探索時間を増加させ、(ii)寄生虫の発見を高めるという複合的な効果 https://t.co/npKztCI5OW

Aug 11, 2023 · 2 likes · 3,770 followers View post →
Åtħ Gøðêlítšäs
@godelitsas · X

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection https://t.co/Qg1cyc6YZC

Jun 11, 2023 · 1 like · 11,674 followers View post →
head-in-the-clouds.bsky.social
@leysbiotutor · X

Yr 10: Thermoregulation One potential answer to that question that crops up - “why do humans retain body hair if it is not really effective at thermoregulation?” Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection - PMC https://t.co/QNOVjFrsZu

Jun 10, 2023 · 1 like · 1,619 followers View post →
Kalpavriksha
@blazingfire5555 · X

Interesting paper

Jun 11, 2023 · 1 like · 19 followers View post →
kumaranz
@Sanatanai07 · X

“Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection”:Having lots of body hair make harder for insects like mosquitos & other ectoparasites to bite you.But there's also a science behind it

Aug 10, 2023 · 4,104 followers View post →
Carlos Chacon
@cjchacon · X

"Tener mucho vello corporal hace que sea más difícil que los insectos que pican, como los mosquitos, te muerdan bien. Es bastante intuitivo, pero también hay un artículo científico que lo documenta" | Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection https://t.co/Z1g7eWXQoN

Jun 10, 2023 · 1,796 followers View post →

All mentions

Laurie Prange
@prangemartin.bsky.social · Bluesky

The @canadianforces.bsky.social allows beards because so-called Beardos have strategic advantages over their clean-shaved counterparts. Allowing folks not to be clean-shaven every day isn’t just about including Black men, it’s also about applying science to gain strategic advantages.

Oct 4, 2025 View post →
ありーちぇ
@ALC_V · X

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection - PMC ヒトの細い体毛が外部寄生虫(トコジラミ)に対する防御機能を担っているという仮説を実験的に検証する。細い体毛は、(i)寄生虫の探索時間を増加させ、(ii)寄生虫の発見を高めるという複合的な効果 https://t.co/npKztCI5OW

Aug 11, 2023 · 2 likes · 3,770 followers View post →
kumaranz
@Sanatanai07 · X

“Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection”:Having lots of body hair make harder for insects like mosquitos & other ectoparasites to bite you.But there's also a science behind it

Aug 10, 2023 · 4,104 followers View post →
기생생활안내소
@save_parasites · X

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection https://t.co/F8H09z9unP

Jun 11, 2023 · 416 followers View post →
Åtħ Gøðêlítšäs
@godelitsas · X

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection https://t.co/Qg1cyc6YZC

Jun 11, 2023 · 1 like · 11,674 followers View post →
Kalpavriksha
@blazingfire5555 · X

Interesting paper

Jun 11, 2023 · 1 like · 19 followers View post →
मनीष पांडेय/Manish Pandey
@MPandeyGeoAI · X

Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection | Biology Letters https://t.co/DYjsGC2ssc

Jun 11, 2023 · 135 followers View post →
Carlos Chacon
@cjchacon · X

"Tener mucho vello corporal hace que sea más difícil que los insectos que pican, como los mosquitos, te muerdan bien. Es bastante intuitivo, pero también hay un artículo científico que lo documenta" | Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection https://t.co/Z1g7eWXQoN

Jun 10, 2023 · 1,796 followers View post →
Seahyung Park
@SeahyungPark · X

TIL that there is a paper that measured the extent to which increased body hair can aid in preventing mosquito bites https://t.co/imMIJWYuZz

Jun 10, 2023 · 138 followers View post →
head-in-the-clouds.bsky.social
@leysbiotutor · X

Yr 10: Thermoregulation One potential answer to that question that crops up - “why do humans retain body hair if it is not really effective at thermoregulation?” Human fine body hair enhances ectoparasite detection - PMC https://t.co/QNOVjFrsZu

Jun 10, 2023 · 1 like · 1,619 followers View post →
T1GlistenerElf
@T1GlistenerElf · X

@lizcontreras24 @fabiolaelizaa @Jortlus @rooshv The link to the study is in the article itself. https://t.co/aMlHOagUsU Way to show that you didn't read it, though…

Dec 18, 2020 · 642 followers View post →
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