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Scientists say they have invented a repellent that makes humans virtually invisible to mosquitoes.
US-based scientist Ulrich Bernier studied chemical compounds in the skin of people who are usually left alone by the blood-sucking insects.
He concocted a new formula that masks the chemical that attracts mosquitoes to some people.
University of Sydney Medical Entomologist, Dr Cameron Webb, said the science could be incredibly useful in mosquito-prone areas of outback Western Australia.
"It's about having a delivery method which is better," he said.
"So if we can stop having to put on lotion, and maybe just flip a switch on a device or spray something around the room it's going to be much easier and much more effective in providing protection against biting mosquitoes."
Dr Webb said it could eliminate the need for spray-on lotion or smoking coils.
"We'd love something like a smokeless mosquito coil that we could just set in motion in the room and that would protect us from mosquito bites."
"Identifying some of those chemicals in a study like this provides an opportunity to highlight some potential chemicals that we can investigate into the future."
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