- Some scientists think zebras' stripes significantly reduce the amount of insect bites they receive.
- To put that theory to the test, Japanese researchers painted cows with different patterns. Some cows got zebra stripes, some received black stripes only, and others were left in their natural coat with no paint at all.
- The zebra trick worked. And it could potentially save the cattle industry billions.
We still don't understand why zebras have stripes. Although earlier this year, the New York Times reported the stripes are likely meant to deter flies that carry deadly diseases.
To test this theory, Japanese scientists recently painted cows with zebra stripes and analyzed the amount of insect bites they received, compared to the bovines that were left blank.
The scientists expected that the painted cows would both avoid fly attacks and show fewer "fly-repelling behaviors" like tail flicks and leg stamps, per the study, published in PLOS One. So they painted two cows with black and white stripes, two with just black stripes, and two with no stripes at all.
The zebra stripes indeed prevented fly attacks. In fact, cows with those stripes saw a 50 percent reduction in flies even landing on them.
Maybe the problem of insect bites seems relatively small, but CNN says bites cost the cattle industry billions of dollars, since they interfere with how cows graze, feed, and sleep. And the amount of energy the cows exert to avoid being bitten causes herding, which boosts their risk of injuries and heat stress.
The scientists also say painting cows with zebra stripes is a safer alternative to pesticides.
