Genetically Modified Fungus Could Help Eradicate Mosquitoes

The genetically engineered Metarhizium fungus is just as attractive to mosquitoes as it is deadly.

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 Kil