Florida Biotech Startup Creates 'Neural Mosquito' to Hunt Down Screwworm Outbreaks in Real Time
A Miami-based bioengineering firm, Synaptic Pest Control, has unleashed a fleet of AI-powered micro-drones they call 'Neural Mosquitoes' that can detect screwworm larvae infestations in livestock before any symptoms appear. By scanning infrared heat signatures and analyzing pheromone traces, these bots have eradicated 90% of screwworm cases in a two-month trial—all without using a single pesticide. The technology, which costs $500 per drone, is now being fast-tracked for use in Central America, where screwworm has caused $1 billion in livestock losses annually.