Scientists Unveil Genetically Engineered Fungus That Could Wipe Out Mosquitoes Forever
Ever wonder if mosquitoes could be lured to their doom by a scent as sweet as a woodland perfume? Yeah, me neither—until I stumbled upon this wild idea of genetically engineered fungus playing the ultimate bait-and-switch. Picture this: a deadly fungus named Metarhizium that not only smells like a bouquet of nectar-filled flowers but effortlessly traps and kills mosquitoes like an insect horror show with a fragrant twist. These relentless bloodsuckers, which carry some of the deadliest diseases on Earth, might just meet their match without the usual chemical warfare that’s harsh on us and the planet. So how does this “natural” assassin work its charm and doom? Spoiler alert: it’s as crafty as it sounds, turning the tables on mosquitoes by exploiting their love for floral aromas—making them walk straight into a fungal trap. Intrigued? You should be. LEARN MORE
The genetically engineered Metarhizium fungus is just as attractive to mosquitoes as it is deadly.
University of MarylandThe study sought to take advantage of how mosquitoes are attracted to certain smells.
By some measures, mosquitoes are among the deadliest creatures on Earth. They carry diseases like malaria, and are notoriously difficult to eradicate. But a group of researchers has proposed a new solution to Earth’s mosquito problem: genetically modified fungi, which can successfully trap and kill mosquitoes.
By genetically engineering the Metarhizium fungus, which is already used to control bugs, the researchers may have invented a way to kill mosquitoes without extensive chemical intervention. Rather, this more “natural” way of eradicating mosquitoes may offer a new and more powerful solution to communities across the world.
How Researchers Used The Metarhizium Fungus To Attract And Kill Mosquitoes
University of MarylandStudy co-author Raymond St. Leger of the University of Maryland.
According to the researchers’ study published in Nature, the question of how to both trap and kill mosquitoes naturally began with a fungus called Metarhizium. Metarhizium is known to be deadly to mosquitoes, as the fungus can release fatal spores that kill the insects by overtaking their insides and consuming them. However, Metarhizium only emits longifolene — a compound with a “sweet” or “woodsy” smell that is highly attractive to mosquitoes — after it’s already killed an insect.
So the researchers set out to “turbocharge” the fungus.
“Mosquitoes need flowers because they provide nectar, a crucial source of food for them, and they are drawn to flowers through their scents,” study co-author Raymond St. Leger, a professor of entomology at the University of Maryland, explained in a university statement. “After observing that some types of fungi could trick mosquitoes into thinking they were flowers, we realized we could turbo-charge the attraction by engineering fungi to produce more longifolene, a sweet-smelling compound that’s already very common in nature.”
In order to turbocharge the fungus, the researchers created a genetically modified strain of Metarhizium that produces high levels of longifolene. Instead of producing the compound only when it killed insects, the researchers tweaked the fungus so that it produced longifolene on a consistent basis.
Then, they tested out their theory.
Mark Sherwood and Raymond St. LegerThe contraption used by researchers to test out their genetically modified fungus, which they found killed between 90 and 100 percent of mosquitoes that encountered it.
They found that once the fungus spores are placed in a trap, longifolene is quickly released. Mosquitoes are naturally drawn to the smell, but are overwhelmingly killed by the fungus itself. In fact, between 90 and 100 percent of mosquitoes who encountered the fungus in lab tests died within days, even when the Metarhizium traps were placed near humans and real flowers, other living things that also draw mosquitoes.
It made no difference if the trap was placed indoors or outdoors, and the fungus spores produce longifolene on such a consistent basis that the trap could be used effectively for months.
What’s more, researchers say that longifolene is not harmful to humans.
A Possible Way To Eradicate Mosquitoes “Naturally” Using Longifolene
The research into Metarhizium is especially revolutionary because it offers a more natural way to eradicate mosquitoes. Not only are other methods, including pesticides and fumigation, potentially harmful to people, but many mosquitoes have developed a defense against them. Metarhizium, however, promises a more effective and safer way to kill the bugs.
“The fungus is completely harmless to humans as longifolene is already commonly used in perfumes and has a long safety record,” St. Leger explained. “This makes it much safer than many chemical pesticides.”
Huiyu ShengA mosquito infected by two different species of Metarhizium fungi.
What’s more, it’s highly unlikely that mosquitoes will be able to develop a defense against the technique, since their very survival depends on the sweet smell found in flowers.
Joking Hazard Enlarged Box Empty Box for Card Storage
$12.00 (as of November 7, 2025 18:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Joking Hazard Deck Enhancement #1 - Expansion Pack for Fun Party Games by Cyanide & Happiness, 100 New Hilarious Comic Cards | Perfect for Game Night
$10.00 (as of November 7, 2025 18:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Rhythm Superfoods Beet Chips Organic and Non GMO Vegan Gluten Free Snacks, Naked, 1.4 Ounce (Pack of 4)
(as of November 7, 2025 18:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
RIVER OF GOODS Stained Glass Magna Carta LED Ceiling Fan - 52" L x 52" W - Tiffany Style - Flush Mount Ceiling Fan with Remote - Teal
(as of November 7, 2025 18:45 GMT +00:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Post Comment