Fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes: US firm tries new approach

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Washington: An innovative mosquito-control initiative in the United States is using the mosquito's own biology against it, with a business releasing over 600,000 specially bred mosquitos to minimise disease-carrying bug populations. The initiative targets Aedes aegypti, a mosquito species that can transmit diseases such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and yellow fever.

The released mosquitoes are meant to breed with wild mosquitos and interrupt their reproduction. Depending on the technique utilised, their offspring may not survive, or local mosquito populations may have a limited ability to breed. The goal is to gradually reduce the number of mosquitos capable of transmitting disease around homes and localities.

The strategy, often known as ‘fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes,’ is being studied as an alternative to traditional chemical spraying. Supporters believe biological mosquito control could provide a more focused approach to reduce disease-carrying populations while perhaps reducing reliance on chemicals. As mosquito-borne diseases spread to new areas, such treatments are becoming increasingly popular.

Residents may be alarmed by the release of thousands of mosquitoes, but the insects have been specifically bred or modified for mosquito control. The program mirrors a broader trend in pest management: instead of just eliminating mosquitos, scientists and companies are attempting to disrupt their capacity to reproduce and spread disease. The unorthodox method seeks to use the mosquito to manage its own population.