Google’s parent company, Alphabet, is seeking federal approval to release up to 32 million mosquitoes across California and Florida over a two-year period. The proposal comes through Alphabet’s mosquito-control company, Debug Project, which focuses on reducing populations of disease-carrying insects without using pesticides.

The plan calls for releasing male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia, a naturally occurring bacterium found in many insect species. When these males mate with wild female mosquitoes, the eggs fail to develop properly, preventing new mosquitoes from reaching adulthood. Because only female mosquitoes bite humans, the released males would not directly increase mosquito activity around neighborhoods.

According to the proposal submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, 16 million mosquitoes would be released in Florida during the first year, followed by another 16 million in California the following year. The agency is reviewing public comments before deciding whether to approve the project.

The effort targets mosquito species known to spread diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Proponents of the approach believe the plan could reduce disease risks while avoiding chemical insecticides that can affect other organisms and lose effectiveness over time.

Mosquitoes are among the deadliest animals on the planet due to their role in spreading disease. Public health agencies have spent decades seeking out ways to control mosquito populations without relying solely on chemical sprays.

In many areas, mosquitoes have developed resistance to common pesticides, making traditional control methods less effective than they once were. But the strategy the Debug Project is proposing would rely on a naturally occurring bacterium already found throughout nature. It’s an important distinction, as it may ease environmental concerns and regulatory hurdles…

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But some critics believe that such a large-scale release of insects, regardless of the strategy, should take special consideration. Many residents have questioned whether reducing mosquito populations could affect food sources for birds, bats, and other wildlife.

Others are less concerned about ecological impacts and more concerned about trust, arguing that assurances from large corporations and government agencies should be independently verified.

While communities do want protection from the annoying bugs, many of which carry disease, there is hesitation there due to how interventions could alter local ecosystems, even when those interventions are designed to solve existing problems.

Mosquito control costs millions of dollars every year, from pesticide applications to public health programs to limit the spread of disease. If new biological strategies like this show promise, more local governments could adopt them and rely less on traditional methods, such as chemical spraying.

The planned releases would be limited to selected areas in Florida and California, and the mosquitoes being released are male, meaning they do not bite. But if the mosquito population declines without causing unintended environmental problems, other states may consider similar programs. The EPA's decision will also help establish how future biological pest-control projects are evaluated.