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high-altitude mosquito migration study: balloon and net

In a muddy grassy field, a view looking upward toward the sky shows a white helium balloon roughly 100 feet above ground, with a long rope extended below it toward a man in the foreground holding the other end. On the rope near the ground is a white gauzy net stretched across several horizontal bars.

A series of studies published since 2019 has shown mosquitoes can ride high-altitude winds to travel long distances in Africa. The discovery was enabled by the use of a new research tool: glue-daubed net traps hanging below helium-filled balloons. (Photo courtesy of Harrysone Atieli, Ph.D.)

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