The Pentagon conducted experiments in the 1950s using mosquitoes as a potential biological weapon, according to Geo reviewers.
The publication refers to 1977 documents declassified by the U. S. Defense Technical Information Center. One of the programs was reportedly called Bellwether. The same files also mention other classified insect-related projects, including Drop Kick and Big Buzz.
According to the reviewers, from September to October 1959, the U.S. military carried out field tests to study mosquito behavior under real-world conditions and assess their possible combat effectiveness. The experiments were aimed at understanding how swarms of mosquitoes could function as a biological weapon if released against enemy troops or populated areas.
The species chosen for the trials was Aedes aegypti, a mosquito that feeds on human blood and can transmit dengue fever, Zika virus and yellow fever. The documents stated that the use of infected mosquitoes had significant strategic potential for affecting people.
However, the insects used in the tests were not infected with diseases. Researchers focused on how far the mosquitoes could spread, whether they would actively bite people in a potential combat zone, and how long they could survive after being released.