Mosquito

Mosquitoes do a superb job of spreading diseases like malaria – now researchers have shown it's possible to hijack these pests and distribute vaccines via mosquito bite. In human trials, these mozzie-borne vaccines proved around 90% effective.

Genetic studies have revealed that when male mosquitoes lose their hearing, they also lose their sex lives. The surprising discovery could lead to new ways to reduce mosquito populations and the diseases they spread.

Mosquitoes are masters of evasion when indoors, seemingly disappearing after you unsuccessfully try to swat them or grab them out of the air. That's where the Bzigo Iris comes in, as it tracks them and shows you where they are.

In a completely different kind of germ warfare, researchers have tested out a way to drop mosquitoes infected with disease-fighting bacteria over populations prone to outbreaks of dengue fever. It's an ingenious way to scale up a proven solution.

There could soon be a non-toxic, longer-lasting and less-smelly alternative to DEET for repelling mosquitos. Scientists have created genetically engineered human skin bacteria that are unappealing to the irritating and disease-spreading insects.

If you're trying to disperse 300,000 disease-fighting mosquitos per day, using a drone may well be your best bet for doing so. The technology has already been tested in Brazil, where it showed very promising results.

After confounding scientists for more than 80 years, researchers have finally discovered how the flesh-eating Buruli ulcer is transmitted: mosquitoes. The discovery means practical measures can now be taken to restrict the spread of the disease.

Researchers have chanced upon a bacteria naturally present in the gut of mosquitoes that inhibits the growth of a malaria-causing parasite. Unlikely to produce resistance, it could be used to complement existing malaria eradication strategies.

Researchers have identified the molecular pathway that allows male mosquitoes to hear females, which is crucial to their reproduction. It could lead to insecticides that exploit this pathway to control mosquito populations and reduce disease transmission.

While insecticide-treated bed nets do help protect against malaria-carrying mosquitos, the chemicals are becoming less effective as the insects develop a resistance to them. It now appears that microwaving one such insecticide makes it "good" again.

Mosquitos are most active at night, which is when campers need light and are most likely to be charging gadgets. The Evo Repel was designed with these facts in mind, as it combines a mosquito repeller, flashlight and power bank in one device.

Researchers have developed a surfactant spray that safely and effectively kills mosquitoes without using insecticides. The spray could be used to protect people from the spread of mosquito-borne diseases.