Mosquito Assassins: A Remedy Against Houston's Summertime Pests

HOUSTON — The summer time sting of a mosquito bite is a normality that most in southeast Texas would love to see eradicated. While most residents along the Texas Gulf Coast routinely stock up on repellents when spring time looms, scientists are hoping the release of mosquito assassins will do a better job if taking care of Houston's pesky mosquito problem.

Harris County and the Houston Museum of Natural Science's Cockrell Butterfly Center have teamed up to study the effects of releasing mosquito assassins in a controlled environment on the mosquito population.

Anita Schiller, who heads up Harris County Precinct 4’s Biological Control Initiative, chose the butterfly center for the study because of its contained environment, healthy ecosystem, and unique ability to educate the public about innovative bio control methods.

Schiller has studied mosquito assassins since 2012, when Pct. 4 Commissioner Jack Cagle formed the Biological Control Initiative and tasked her with developing natural and effective mosquito-control methods. Schiller’s team now breeds the insects and releases them into Precinct 4 parks to control mosquito populations without pesticides.

“The mosquito assassin poses no risk to the environment or man and helps control mosquito populations,” Schiller said. “They are also beautifully colored, much like some butterflies, and locally self-sustaining. This study will give us a better idea of how fast mosquito assassins reproduce and eliminate mosquitoes in a semi-controlled environment.”

While the mosquito assassin sounds somewhat sinister and man-made, it's actually been around a while and considered native to the southeastern United States.

The mosquito assassins, aka Toxorhynchites rutilus, lay eggs in rainwater-filled vessels in which pest mosquito larvae are likely to be found.

When the mosquito assassins hatch, then feed on aquatic insects - including pest mosquito larvae. By the time they reach adulthood, mosquito assassins take flight to feed on plant nectar and pollinate flowers.

“We are excited to be a part of this study and welcome these fascinating beneficial insects into the Cockrell Butterfly Center,” said Erin Mills, the director of the Cockrell Butterfly Center. “They are a wonderful addition to the team of predatory organisms we have fighting against pest activity.”

To learn more about the Harris County Precinct 4 Biological Control Initiative, click here.

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