"12-minute radiation": tiger mosquito reproduction blocked by a miracle process?

The tiger mosquito has found a formidable opponent. The start-up Terratis , based in Montpellier (Hérault), is the first to use a formidable method to limit the proliferation of the insect, which carries serious diseases.

Called the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT), it involves sterilizing the male tiger mosquito, which, by mating with a female, creates empty eggs. A sustainable, insecticide-free solution, based on 14 years of scientific research by the French Institute of Research for Development (IRD).

In the startup's laboratory, tiger mosquito eggs are placed in tanks and kept warm to produce larvae. These larvae transform into pupae before reaching adulthood. The main room houses dozens of boxes, each housing thousands of mosquitoes to facilitate reproduction.

"We keep some of the insects, both male and female, to put them back into breeding, that is, into continuous production. And a large portion of the males will be sterilized and released," explains Clélia Oliva, the founding president of Terratis.

The males are then separated from the females for treatment. "They are kept cold and therefore remain motionless while undergoing 12 minutes of radiation," she explains.

Once sterilized, large numbers of male tiger mosquitoes will be released into specific areas. The goal? To mate with females who will lay empty eggs, thus limiting their proliferation.

According to a study report by the IRD , the Sterile Insect Technique is extremely effective. A test under real-life conditions in the Duparc district of Sainte-Marie (Réunion) reduced the birth rate of tiger mosquitoes by an average of 50% and up to 60% in the first year.

Clélia Oliva, a guest on BFM Business last month, finally points out that this percentage can rise to 90% for the second year of treatment.

"While researchers agree that SIT will not completely eliminate the mosquito population, it is a truly compelling means of control," said Louis Clément Gouagna, a medical entomologist at IRD and coordinator of the SIT program in Réunion.

With this promising solution, Terratis hopes to have an operational plant in 2028 for broader deployment in agriculture, particularly to combat agricultural insect pests. The startup announced a €1.5 million fundraising round last March and is already receiving requests from both local authorities and condominium managers.

Introduced into mainland France in 2004, the tiger mosquito has gradually spread to 78 departments. By 2024, Morbihan, Moselle, Oise, Sarthe, Seine-Maritime, Yonne, and the Territoire de Belfort had been colonized.

The fly poses a danger to humans because it can transmit dangerous viruses, such as dengue, chikungunya, and Zika. The Ministry of Health recorded more than 2,000 cases of dengue in metropolitan France in 2023.

In addition to sophisticated laboratory techniques, it is recommended to eliminate stagnant water in and around habitats to limit proliferation. Similarly, installing mosquito nets or repellents can help prevent bites.