Striped body painting may avert horsefly bites

Striped body painting adopted by indigenous populations may provide protection against horseflies, research suggests.

Scientists already knew that the black and white stripes of zebras deterred the bloodsucking insects.

Now a new study, carried out by Hungarian scientists, seems to show that contrasting stripes painted on to human bodies have the same effect.

Many tribes in Africa, Australia and Papua New Guinea have traditionally daubed their faces and bodies with white, yellow, grey or beige stripes made from clay, chalk, or plant and animal products. The body stripes are chiefly used as decoration.