As well as sending cats crazy, catnip helps our feline friends repel mosquitoes, according to a new study by Japanese experts. Both catnip, a common herb, and the even more potent silver vine are known to elicit euphoric responses in cats. Cat owners use the dry leaves of these plants to give joy to their … Read more
Some residents of the Florida Keys are furious over plans to release more than 750 million genetically modified mosquitoes in the region to combat disease. The Florida Keys Mosquito Control District gave final approval Tuesday to the plan, which will be rolled out in 2021 and 2022. The transgenic insects, classified as OX5034, have been modified … Read more
Florida moves forward with contentious plan to release 750million genetically modified mosquitoes to help lessen the spread of disease A biotech firm has been approved to release 750million mosquitoes in Florida They contain a protein that lessens the survival rate of female offspring The team hopes the insects will lower overall mosquito populations and decrease the … Read more
Mosquitoes carrying diseases such as dengue, zika and yellow fever could be common throughout parts of Europe by 2030 due to global warming, a study warns. Changes to traditional rainfall patterns and soaring temperatures will make more parts of the world viable homes for the mosquitoes. The insect, known by the scientific name Aedes aegypti as well … Read more
Scientists have discovered a bug which lives inside the guts of mosquitoes and protects them from getting malaria. Researchers said the microbe, which lives in around 5 per cent of mosquitoes on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya, could also stop the insects from transmitting the disease to humans. Malaria is spread through the … Read more
Mosquitoes can be genetically engineered to stop them spreading dengue fever to humans, a study has revealed. Working in a lab, scientists created mosquitoes which were immune to the tropical disease and therefore unable to pass it on through bites. They injected the insects with human immune system proteins which were able to fight off … Read more