Scientists Unveil Genetically Engineered Fungus That Could Wipe Out Mosquitoes Forever
“If mosquitoes evolve to avoid longifolene, that could mean they’ll stop responding to flowers,” St. Leger stated. “But they need flowers as a food source to survive, so it would be very interesting to see how they could possibly avoid the fungus yet still be attracted to the flowers they need.”
Even if mosquitoes did learn to avoid longifolene, St. Leger continued, it would be possible for researchers to modify Metarhizium to produce different floral scents.
He also noted that research into killing mosquitoes is more important than ever, as rising temperatures around the world have created many ideal conditions for mosquitoes to thrive. Because they can carry dangerous diseases, it’s important for scientists to figure out a way to curb their populations. Metarhizium seems like a promising solution, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to put away the bug spray, as St. Leger and his fellow researchers are now looking into how Metarhizium might be used alongside other insect repellents.
“It’s not as if you’re going to necessarily find a silver bullet to control mosquitoes everywhere, but we’re trying to develop a very diverse and flexible set of tools that people in different parts of the world can use and choose from,” St. Leger said. “Different people will find different approaches work best for their particular situation and the particular mosquitoes they’re dealing with. In the end, our goal is to give people as many options as possible to save lives.”
After reading about the genetically modified fungus that traps and kills mosquitoes, discover the story of cordyceps, the “zombie fungus” from “The Last Of Us” that brutally kills insects by invading their bodies. Or, learn about the bullet ant, the insect with the world’s most painful sting.
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