Deaf Mosquitoes Lose Mating Ability, Paving the Way for New Population Control

Genetic research has revealed that male mosquitoes lose their ability to reproduce when they lose their sense of hearing. This surprising discovery could open new methods to reduce mosquito populations and the diseases they spread.

While the high-pitched buzz of a mosquito is highly annoying to humans, especially on warm nights, it is an irresistible sound to other mosquitoes. Scientists have long understood that hearing is essential for mosquito mating. Female mosquitoes beat their wings at around 500 Hz, attracting males who respond with wingbeats at approximately 800 Hz. After just a few seconds of mid-air copulation, mating is complete.

On summer evenings, we often see swarms of mosquitoes gathered near water or under streetlights,explains Yijin Wang, co-lead author of the study. These gatherings are essentially mass mating events.

Testing the Impact of Hearing Loss in Mosquitoes

To explore how hearing affects mosquito behavior, researchers at UC Santa Barbara used the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing system to deactivate a gene called trpVa in mosquitoes. The researchers observed that the genetically modified insects did not react to sound, and their neurons associated with hearing showed no electrical activity, confirming the success of the genetic modification.

When these deaf mosquitoes were placed in mixed populations, the male mosquitoes failed to respond to receptive females, leaving the task to their hearing-enabled counterparts. Female mosquitoes, on the other hand, struggled more to attract mates but still managed to reproduce. This highlights the critical role of hearing for males in locating partners.

It’s fascinating to discover that, unlike most organisms, where mating relies on multiple senses, removing a single sense can completely disable this ability in mosquitoes, says Emma Duge, another co-lead author of the study.

Potential for Population Control

Rather than helping mosquitoes adapt to this hearing loss, the researchers view this finding as an opportunity to control mosquito populations. Past efforts have introduced sterile males into specific areas to reduce reproduction, but the results were temporary, as natural populations eventually recovered.

A new strategy could involve modifying sterile male mosquitoes to enhance their sensitivity to female wingbeats, allowing them to locate mates more effectively than wild males. If successful, this approach could help curb the spread of diseases like malaria, Zika, and dengue fever, providing a valuable tool for vector control.

Read theoriginal article on: New Atlas

Read more: The Oldest Mosquito Fossils Reveal that Male Mosquitoes Fed on Blood