Researchers engineered Metarhizium fungi to produce longifolene, a natural pine compound that attracts and kills mosquitoes—including strains resistant to chemical pesticides. These bioengineered spores lured species like Aedes albopictus and Anopheles sinensis, maintaining over 90% mosquito mortality even in environments with competing floral scents or human presence. The discovery reveals fungi’s ability to spread through scent-driven infection cycles, offering a safe, sustainable alternative to toxic mosquito control methods.