Dr. Floyd Shockley, Collections Manager, Department of Entomology at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
THE ANSWER
Yes, genetically modified mosquitoes do exist, but they re not harmful to humans. In fact, experts say they do not bite at all. Genetically modified mosquitoes were created to combat mosquitoes that spread disease.
WHAT WE FOUND
In 2021, Oxitec, a biotechnology company that develops genetically modified insects that safely and sustainably control pests that spread disease, damage crops and harm livestock across the globe, partnered with the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) to evaluate the effectiveness of Oxitec mosquitoes to control the invasive, disease-spreading Aedes aegypti mosquito in the Florida Keys.