Iowa City, United States - January 24, 2025 Researchers at the University of Iowa have uncovered a gene in fruit flies that plays a crucial role in their courtship behavior, which may offer a new way to control mosquito populations and curb the spread of diseases. The gene, which controls antenna movements in female fruit flies, allows them to detect the unique sound produced by male mates. This mechanism is also found in mosquitoes, and silencing the gene could reduce their mating success, potentially limiting the spread of diseases like Zika, West Nile virus, and Eastern equine encephalitis. The study highlights how fruit flies and mosquitoes share a similar active tuning system for hearing and mating, suggesting that disrupting this process in mosquitoes could have important implications for human health.