Photon Matrix launches laser mosquito killer amid rising West Nile Virus in California

A Chinese startup, Photon Matrix, has launched a laser-powered mosquito defense system as California reports a five-year high in West Nile Virus cases. The company is offering an indoor model for $988 and an outdoor version starting at $1,088.

The devices utilize a combination of AI-based vision, LiDAR, and radar to detect and target mosquitoes. The technology is designed to identify insects as small as 2mm moving at speeds up to 3.3 feet per second. To avoid harming non-target species like butterflies, the system evaluates the size and shape of an insect before firing a precision laser intended to disable the mosquito's wings.

The outdoor model features a 360-degree rotating base and scans a 20-foot field, emitting visible blue flashes when it fires. The indoor version uses infrared detection and an invisible laser for use in enclosed spaces such as bedrooms. This product launch coincides with rising health concerns in California, where the Department of Public Health has reported 30 human cases of West Nile Virus as of mid-August.