Why are they releasing millions of mosquitoes in Hawaii?

Find America Outdoors with Baratunde Thurston here: https://to.pbs.org/3uKw6b8 With over a million deaths attributed to them each year, mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on earth. For years, we used DDT to combat them, only to ban the pesticide in the 1970’s. Now, mosquitos are spreading as far away as Hawaii—invasive pests that harm both people and wildlife. In the post-DDT world, what’s the solution? Surprisingly, one answer could come from a lab in Kentucky, where scientists are using bacteria to turn male mosquitos into assassins. The males mate with females, and the eggs they lay are sterile—a technique that has potential to thwart the mosquitos that spread disease. It’s mosquito v mosquito in the high stakes battle to stop mosquito-born destruction. Will it work, without upsetting the ecological balance? In Hawaii, they’re hoping the answer is yes. ***** PBS Member Stations rely on viewers like you. To support your local station, go to: http://to.pbs.org/DonateTerra *****