Radiation-bacteria combo virtually eliminates Asian tiger mosquitoes on two islands | Science

If your mosquito repellent did not work this summer, have you ever tried to infect blood suckers with bacteria or expose them to radiation? This has been done by an international team of researchers who have almost eliminated Asian tiger mosquitoes on two islands in Guangzhou, China. Nature reports. Researchers exposed mosquitoes raised in the laboratory to a low level of radiation that sterilized females; they then injected a bacteria to men (Wolbachia pipientis) known to weaken embryos after reproduction. After releasing both types of mosquitoes in the wild, researchers found a 94% reduction in the number of wild adult females, report this week Nature. These results suggest that the new method could help eradicate the invading mosquito, carrying both dengue and Zika virus.