People Are Choosing an Unusual Weapon Against Mosquitoes: Other Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are often considered one of the worst uninvited guests at any outdoor event. That’s because they chase people indoors with their buzzing and biting, leaving behind itchy welts in their wake.

However, mosquitoes can be more than just an annoyance. These insects are considered the world’s deadliest animals by experts, thanks to their ability to spread diseases, making it important to avoid contact with them whenever possible.

According to CBS19, some communities are turning to a new way to fight back against these bugs, and it involves adding more mosquitoes to local populations. But they aren’t just using any mosquitoes in the fight.  Instead, they are turning to specially bred mosquitoes. 

These are known as “ZAP” mosquitoes, and they appear to be very popular with some communities. Here’s what we know.

Mosquito Season is Getting Longer in Many Areas

Warmer and wetter weather is prolonging the mosquito season in many areas, forcing some folks to get creative. That’s where the new “ZAP” mosquitoes come in, according to CBS19. These bugs are bred to have a special gut bacteria that is not compatible with reproduction.

When the male “ZAP” mosquitoes breed with females, the eggs never hatch, which cuts down the existing mosquito population. According to the outlet, this treatment method is designed to work with tiger mosquitoes, which aren’t native to the U.S. 

The Treatment is Showing Some Success

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this process was approved as a form of “biopesticide” in 2017. The use of “ZAP” mosquitoes is helpful because it can reduce the population of mosquitoes that are known to carry certain diseases, like Zika, dengue, and chikungunya. 

While “ZAP” mosquitoes were originally limited to use in certain states (California, New Jersey, and Kentucky among them), the EPA says it has amended the approval to include all states as of 2023. 

That being said, the agency says it will continue to monitor the use of this biopesticide to confirm that quality standards and results continue to meet the agency’s requirements for the amended approval. 

People Who Have Seen the Mosquitoes in Action Praise the Process

They say you have to fight fire with fire, but not everyone is instantly on board with the idea of fighting mosquitoes with mosquitoes, especially when you consider how many of the “ZAP” mosquitoes it takes to be successful. 

“It is a little off-putting to have, you know, 1,500 mosquitoes released in your yard every week,” Maryland homeowner David Stoline told CBS19 before sharing that he was happy with the results, calling the “ZAP” mosquitoes the “good guys,” and revealing that he’s experienced fewer bites after using this method.