The startup Mosqitter is transforming the mosquito traps it developed into a monitoring network that uses artificial intelligence to identify mosquito species, track changes in their populations, and provide early indicators of increased mosquito-borne disease risks. The company says it has more than 5,000 operating devices across five continents, compared with slightly more than 250 devices in 2022.
Mosqitter began research and development in Ukraine in 2019 and launched its commercial operations in 2021. It employs around 30 people at its headquarters in Pennsylvania. Its devices attract female mosquitoes, which bite humans, by simulating the heat, scent, and light of skin, with carbon dioxide added to the Mosqitter Grand model to simulate human breathing.
How Does the System Use Artificial Intelligence?
The computer vision system analyzes images of the mosquitoes captured by the devices, then compares the neural network’s results with external data before they are verified by entomologists. The system then assigns the result a confidence score based on the degree to which these assessments agree. The company also collects data on weather, wind, and humidity, with the aim of using accumulated data to predict changes in mosquito populations and indicators of potential health risks.
Mosqitter’s current portfolio focuses on two devices: Mosqitter Grand for large spaces and public places, and Mosqitter Mini for residential spaces and mobile use. The Mini costs around $199, while the professional Grand costs $1,999.
What Does the Febris System Add?
The company plans to officially launch the Febris Monitoring System next month, adding a data layer for monitoring mosquito populations and assessing the likelihood of diseases being spread by specific species. However, the company emphasizes that Febris does not diagnose diseases and cannot determine with certainty that a particular mosquito carries the dengue fever virus; it identifies the presence of a specific species, which may indicate an increased likelihood associated with diseases that species can transmit.
Febris targets institutional organizations such as governments, public health agencies, mosquito-control agencies, airports, municipalities, and universities. Mosqitter is working with the UK Health Security Agency to deploy the system at sites including Heathrow and Gatwick airports. It has also established local manufacturing and sales operations in Brazil, and considers the United States, Greece, India, Ukraine, and Nigeria to be key markets.
Why Does This Development Matter?
The project’s practical value lies in moving from a trap that kills mosquitoes to a tool that collects continuous data on species and the environment. This data may help relevant authorities determine where mosquito populations are changing or where species associated with health risks are appearing, but the source does not yet establish that the system provides confirmed predictions of disease outbreaks or that it is a substitute for public health and diagnostic systems. The accuracy of the results remains tied to the images, external data, and specialist verification, and Febris has not yet become a primary source of revenue.
Mosqitter currently generates revenue from device sales, while Febris adds recurring subscriptions for monitoring, dashboards, analytics, and data services. The company expects revenue to exceed $1 million in 2026 and estimates that its data business will exceed $3.5 million next year, based on the value of contracts for which it is competing. It is also raising a $5 million funding round in two tranches, beginning with $1 million followed by $4 million, after raising $1.9 million to date.