Google is seeking federal permission for a mosquito-release project in California and Florida aimed at reducing disease-carrying populations, while EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has denied separate claims that the agency approved genetically modified mosquito releases.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Google is asking federal regulators to allow the release of about 32 million mosquitoes in California and Florida over a two-year period as part of a disease-control effort designed to reduce mosquito populations tied to several serious illnesses.
The proposal, now before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, would allow researchers connected to Google’s Debug initiative to release male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria that can prevent offspring from surviving when the males mate with wild females. The project is intended to suppress mosquito populations linked to the spread of West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis, according to The New York Post.
The plan would target Culex mosquitoes, a species known to transmit West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis. West Nile virus is the leading mosquito-borne disease in the United States and has been identified broadly in California among local bird and mosquito populations.
The effort is also being discussed in the context of other mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya and yellow fever, though the proposal described by the Post focuses particularly on Culex mosquitoes and the diseases they are known to carry.
Under the proposal, Google would not release female mosquitoes, which are the insects that bite humans. Instead, the company’s researchers say the release would involve male mosquitoes carrying Wolbachia. When those males breed with wild female mosquitoes, the resulting offspring would fail to survive, reducing the overall mosquito population over time.
“Researchers say the latest proposal targets Culex mosquitoes, a species known for transmitting West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis,” the Post reported. “Rather than releasing biting insects, the company plans to release male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacteria. When the infected males mate with wild female mosquitoes, the offspring do not survive, helping suppress mosquito populations over time. Because only female mosquitoes bite humans, experts say the releases would not increase the number of biting mosquitoes.”
Google has said the program would rely on artificial intelligence and robotic systems to breed, sort and release the mosquitoes. The project is part of Google’s Debug initiative, which the Post reported began more than a decade ago.
The EPA is considering whether to grant an experimental use permit for the release plan. The agency is accepting public comments through June 5 before making a decision, according to the report.
The proposal has drawn attention after EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin responded last week to separate social media claims that the agency had approved a release of 2 billion genetically modified mosquitoes in Florida and elsewhere. Zeldin denied that claim, saying the Trump administration’s EPA had not authorized such a release.
“ENTIRELY fake news! At no point since President Trump was sworn back into office has the Trump EPA authorized the release of ANY genetically modified mosquitoes into Florida or anywhere else for that matter. So much fake news BS being peddled on social media for RTs, Likes, and…” Zeldin wrote, linking to a post on X.
Zeldin’s May 23 statement addressed claims about genetically modified mosquitoes, while Google’s reported proposal involves male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia. The EPA has not yet announced whether it will approve Google’s experimental use permit.