In the United States will use a "bacterial weapon" against mosquitoes

Фото: Depositphotos

Mosquitoes have become a big problem in the USA. They interfere with life and, moreover, are carriers of dangerous diseases, such as Zika virus. The US government has allowed to apply a unique strategy to combat them.

According to Time, in early November, the Environmental Protection Agency authorized the company Mosquitomate to spread Wolbachia bacteria in 20 states.

Вольбахии — естественный паразит членистоногих, и на людей они никак не влияют. Бактерии поражают репродуктивную систему комаров, снижая их фертильность и нарушая нормальное развитие яиц.

Scientists infect only ZAP males with bacteria, as they do not bite humans. Mosquitoes will fertilize female tiger mosquitoes, which will soon produce eggs infected with Wolbachia. Of the eggs, new mosquitoes will not hatch, as this will prevent bacteria.

Experiments in Kentucky, California and New York showed that ZAP males can reduce the total mosquito population by more than 80%.

“Bacterial weapons” against mosquitoes have already been tested in Brazil and Australia. There it helps in the fight against mosquitoes Aedes aegypti - carriers of Zika virus, which causes microcephaly in newborns (pathology of the skull and brain).

In China, they also use this technique, releasing weekly 5 million insects infected with Wolbachia. Such productivity of Chinese entomologists is explained by the presence of an automatic mosquito sorting system.

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