As a mosquito species that targets humans moved into Southern California, officials are sending out lab-raised, irradiated mosquitoes to fight them.
After a mosquito species that targets humans has moved into Southern California, officials are sending out lab-raised, irradiated mosquitoes in bid to fight them.
The target is a particular species, Aedes aegypti. The insects, which began to populate Los Angeles County in 2014, have evolved to hone in on one thing — you. The district on Thursday released about 20,000 sterile male mosquitoes, dyed to appear fluorescent under a black light, as part of its final pilot program test. Male Aedes Aegypti mosquitoes don’t bite, so experts say the program poses near-zero risk to humans. Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
“Everybody always said, well, our weather isn’t suitable, but you know, the mosquitoes adapt and our weather has changed,” Kluh said. “We get more moisture in the summer, and people create these ideal little moist mini climates in their backyards, with lush plants and everything.”The weaponized mosquitoes were bred in a Kentucky laboratory but developed from eggs sourced from the LA area.
Other regions are pursuing similar technology. In Florida, Lee County began a program to release sterile, irradiated mosquitoes in 2017. Several other California districts are also piloting the program or have purchased irradiators. The idea of irradiating pests to bring populations down is not new. The agricultural industry has been irradiating male fruit flies for about three decades, according to Hahn.
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