Mosquitoes and the diseases they carry are expanding into new territory. Rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, and global travel are reshaping where disease-carrying mosquitoes can thrive, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Cases of dengue, a viral illness spread by mosquito bites, more than doubled in a year, from 6.5 million reported globally in 2023 to a record 14.6 million in 2024, the WHO says.
A 30-person, Pennsylvania-based startup, Mosqitter, thinks fighting that problem requires more than killing mosquitoes. The company started by building chemical-free devices that lure and trap female mosquitoes by mimicking the heat, scent, and breathing cues of humans.