Low-Cost Electric Field Technology for Repelling, Capturing and Killing Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes pose a significant threat to human health, responsible for transmitting deadly diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and Zika virus. With over one million people worldwide affected by mosquito-borne illnesses annually, these insects inflict more human suffering than any other organism. Despite extensive efforts, controlling mosquito populations and mitigating the risk of disease transmission has remained a challenge for public health authorities and communities worldwide.

 

Primary methods for mosquito control employ the use of insecticides, however, excessive use of these chemicals has resulted in the emergence of insecticide resistance. Alternative methods under development include the use of Electric Field (EF) barriers for mosquito control. Although promising, these solutions still leave a gap for affordable and accessible alternatives.

 

Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a new technology for mosquito control which is non-chemical and doesn’t induce insecticide resistance. By utilizing the principles of EF barriers and novel componentry configurations, they are able to repel and/or kill mosquitoes and possibly other flying disease vectors and nuisance insects. Because this can prevent mosquito bites at any time, it can effectively target daytime biters (Aedes) as well as night time biters (Anopheles, Culex, etc.). This technology can be incorporated into windows, doors, other openings in buildings, storm drains, water storage tanks and any other space where mosquitoes rest and or breed. Preliminary studies demonstrated that this technology effectively repels mosquitoes.

 

Utilization of this technology offers a cheap and easily implementable solution to mosquito control and holds the potential to significantly contribute to global efforts in combating mosquito-borne diseases and improving public health outcomes.

 

Potential Applications

Effective in mosquito repelling (70-90%, 2 hours after release; 60-80%, 23 hours after release)

For more information about this opportunity, please see

 

For more information about the inventor(s) and their research, please see

Dr. Paaijman’s laboratory webpage