Contra Costa’s new mosquito control strategy combats the pests by releasing more of them

After three years of applying traditional methods to combat a dangerous mosquito species, Contra Costa County officials are trying a new strategy, which on the surface may seem counterintuitive.

Starting Wednesday, specially treated male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes will be released at Harbour Park in Antioch. The male mosquitoes, treated with Wolbachia bacteria, mate with females, which will then produce eggs that cannot hatch. The bacteria occur naturally and don’t affect humans or pets because male mosquitoes can’t bite, according to the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District.