Israeli Startup Uses Sterile Male Mosquitoes to Combat Insect Population

Israeli startup Senecio Robotics has developed a novel biological pest control system targeting the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). The technology, based on the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), involves releasing sterilized male mosquitoes into residential areas and private gardens. These sterile males mate with wild females, but their offspring are non-viable, leading to a gradual reduction in the mosquito population.

Senecio Robotics has automated the traditionally labor-intensive SIT process. Their facility in Kfar Saba uses a vacuum system to collect mosquitoes, high-resolution cameras to identify and sort up to 300 mosquitoes per second, and then packages the sterile males for distribution. The service operates on a subscription model, requiring regular releases during warmer months due to the limited lifespan of the sterile males and the potential for new mosquitoes to migrate from neighboring areas.

The basic monthly subscription for a private home is 249 shekels, covering an area of up to 300 square meters. Approximately 700 private homes have already used the service. Senecio Robotics cautions that results vary depending on the specific location and infestation levels, and the current technology is primarily effective against the Asian tiger mosquito.

The company has partnered with 15 Israeli municipalities and local councils, including Kfar Saba, Ramat HaSharon, Shoham, and Ra'anana, with its technology implemented in about 50 communities. Over the past decade, Senecio has secured around $12 million in funding from various sources, including the Israel Innovation Authority and the BIRD Foundation.

Senecio Robotics plans to expand its model to the United States and India by 2027. The company also aims to adapt its platform to control other mosquito species and combat mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue fever, Zika virus, and malaria.