A fungus – genetically enhanced to produce spider toxin – can rapidly kill huge numbers of the mosquitoes that spread malaria, a study suggests. Trials, which took place in Burkina Faso, showed mosquito populations collapsed by 99% within 45 days. The researchers say their aim is not to make the insects extinct but to help… Read More: GM fungus rapidly kills 99% of malaria mosquitoes, study suggests »
While it sometimes seems like mosquitoes swarm humans simply to make our lives miserable, they actually ruin our evening strolls and barbecues because they’re hungry. A female mosquito needs to slurp up a belly full of blood to produce her clutch of eggs and her hunger hormones drive her to seek out bare arms and… Read More: Feeding Mosquitoes Diet Drugs Makes Them Stop Biting – Smithsonian.com »
Scientists say they may have found a way to reduce the appetite of blood-hungry mosquitoes, by giving them human diet drugs. This left them feeling full and bloated and put them off biting, US researchers said. They said the technique could be used to prevent illnesses such as Zika, yellow fever and malaria. But their… Read More: Mosquitoes 'put off biting' by human diet drugs »