In Washington, United States, Todd Montgomery is releasing specially bred male Asian tiger mosquitoes in residential yards instead of using medicine or sprays to control mosquitoes. The males do not bite and carry a natural bacterium called Wolbachia. When they mate with female mosquitoes that lack the bacterium, the females' eggs do not hatch, aiming to stop the birth of new mosquitoes.

The report describes this as the first such initiative for residents of a US residential area. About 600,000 Asian tiger mosquitoes are planned for release across the area by the end of summer. So far, 25 families have taken the service, with 1,500 mosquitoes released at each home every week for up to 16 weeks.

Montgomery's company introduced the service primarily to reduce pesticide use. Many residents are interested because of environmental and family health considerations. Similar mosquito-control methods are used in countries including Singapore, and one study found such an initiative reduced dengue risk by more than 70 percent. Experts said results depend on local environmental conditions, and mosquitoes may arrive from other areas with the wind, meaning some homes could take longer to see the desired outcome.