Thousands of sterile mosquitoes are being released weekly in Rosemont as part of a program aimed at reducing invasive mosquito populations and preventing disease outbreaks. “There’s been mosquitoes around more often lately than earlier because I’ve been getting bit once a day,” said David Dupree, a Rosemont resident. These newly released mosquitoes won’t bite, but instead, they are designed to help. “Since they’re sterile and when we release them into the environment, they look for the mosquito, the mosquitoes, they mate, but then her eggs don’t hatch,” said Luz Maria Robles of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District. The district stated that the effort will, over time, help reduce populations of an invasive mosquito species that poses a public health threat. “The risk is that because we have so many of these mosquitoes that we would have local outbreaks of dengue or other diseases,” Robles said. The Sterile Insect Technique Program began in Sacramento’s South Natomas in 2025 and was expanded to the Rosemont community after officials observed promising results. “It really helps everybody out in the community. So we’re not catching any of these diseases for sure,” Dupree said. Each week, 144,000 sterile mosquitoes will be released through the end of October. “I’m happy that they’re taking advantage and trying to take every precaution necessary to keep us safe,” said Rosemont resident Afulu Siona. District staff will also be in the area to place mosquito traps and monitor mosquito activity. “You know, keep us safe and keep this community healthy. I feel like we should do whatever it takes,” said Iosefa Siona, another Rosemont resident. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
ROSEMONT, Calif. —
Thousands of sterile mosquitoes are being released weekly in Rosemont as part of a program aimed at reducing invasive mosquito populations and preventing disease outbreaks.
“There’s been mosquitoes around more often lately than earlier because I’ve been getting bit once a day,” said David Dupree, a Rosemont resident.
These newly released mosquitoes won’t bite, but instead, they are designed to help.
“Since they’re sterile and when we release them into the environment, they look for the mosquito, the mosquitoes, they mate, but then her eggs don’t hatch,” said Luz Maria Robles of the Sacramento-Yolo Mosquito and Vector Control District.
The district stated that the effort will, over time, help reduce populations of an invasive mosquito species that poses a public health threat.
“The risk is that because we have so many of these mosquitoes that we would have local outbreaks of dengue or other diseases,” Robles said.
The Sterile Insect Technique Program began in Sacramento’s South Natomas in 2025 and was expanded to the Rosemont community after officials observed promising results.
“It really helps everybody out in the community. So we’re not catching any of these diseases for sure,” Dupree said.
Each week, 144,000 sterile mosquitoes will be released through the end of October.
“I’m happy that they’re taking advantage and trying to take every precaution necessary to keep us safe,” said Rosemont resident Afulu Siona.
District staff will also be in the area to place mosquito traps and monitor mosquito activity.
“You know, keep us safe and keep this community healthy. I feel like we should do whatever it takes,” said Iosefa Siona, another Rosemont resident.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel