French Startup Develops Mosquito-Hunting Drone

French startup Tornyol developed a drone capable of identifying and destroying mosquitoes, aiming to reduce the health risks associated with mosquito-borne diseases. The company estimates that mosquitoes cause nearly 250 million illnesses and over 600,000 deaths annually, particularly from malaria.

The drone uses technology to differentiate mosquitoes from other flying insects like bees before eliminating them. It can patrol large areas, thousands of square meters, but currently has a limited flight time of three minutes before needing to return to a charging base.

Tornyol is currently accepting pre-orders for the drone, which costs $1,100 to purchase or $50 per month to rent, including maintenance and software updates. Shipments are expected to begin in 2027. The company believes this technology will allow mosquito control on an unprecedented scale and at a lower cost than traditional methods.