A New Approach to Mosquito Control: Understand. Mimic. Control.
We've all been there. A dinner out that ends earlier than expected. Kids coming home covered in bug bites. A patio we end up avoiding in the summer.
For a long time, mosquito control solutions merely masked the problem: sprays, candles, diffusers, insecticides… solutions that were sometimes inconvenient and often only temporary. At Wiliv, we’ve taken a different approach. Rather than repelling mosquitoes for just a few hours, we aim to reduce their presence in the long term by understanding their behavior.
Because a mosquito doesn't bite "at random." It follows very specific signals.
And that's exactly where it all begins.
Understanding Mosquitoes to Better Control Them
Mosquitoes follow a well-defined life cycle.
Taking action only at the time of the bite is therefore not enough. To achieve lasting results, intervention is needed at several key stages of their development.
The Wiliv solutions were designed based on this approach.
Developing technologies inspired by nature
Our devices are based on biomimicry.
In practical terms, this means thatthey reproduce certain signals that mosquitoes naturally associate with human presence or a suitable place to lay eggs.
There's no need to douse your outdoor space with insecticides. We simply use the mosquito's own mechanisms against it.
Ensuring a responsible approach
At Wiliv, we believe that a mosquito repellent should be safe for your health and the environment.
That is why our devices operate without using airborne insecticides and specifically target mosquitoes.
Essential parts can be replaced to extend the equipment's lifespan season after season.
Taking action throughout the mosquito's entire life cycle
Our approach isn't just about “killing a few mosquitoes.” The goal is broader: to gradually reduce their presence around your home.
To this end, our solutions target various stages of the mosquito life cycle:
- females looking to sting;
- females that are ready to lay eggs;
- larvae in stagnant water.
By combining prevention, capture, and an understanding of the local context, it becomes possible to restore an outdoor environment that is much more pleasant to enjoy.
The mosquito's egg
Laid individually on the edges of water bodies—where they can sometimes fall in and hatch quickly—the eggs of the tiger mosquito are nearly invisible. They have the ability to dehydrate during dry periods and can thus remain dormant for several months until they are submerged again and can hatch.
In general, it is important to be vigilant about standing water that cannot always be eliminated, as water can accumulate there following rain, watering, water play, or other sources. The eggs are just waiting for these conditions to develop.
The Nymph
Just as the chrysalis is to the butterfly, the nymph is the stage in the mosquito’s life cycle during which a complete metamorphosis takes place, allowing the transition from aquatic larva to flying adult.
The nymph does not feed but remains mobile in the water. Like the larva, it needs to rise to the surface to breathe.
When metamorphosis is complete, the adult mosquito—called an imago—emerges from its nymphal casing to become the flying insect we know.
The female trying to sting
The tiger mosquito bites exclusively during the day. It prefers areas close to the ground and dark places. Its activity peaks twice a day, around dawn and dusk, and also varies depending on the temperature.
Fast, agile, and particularly persistent, this mosquito doesn’t hesitate to stop mid-bite and return to attack repeatedly, which makes it even more of a nuisance.
Some people are more likely to be bitten by the tiger mosquito than others.
The larva
The mosquito larva develops in standing water; it feeds by filtering the water and grows through molting. They frequently need to rise to the water’s surface to breathe. Almost invisible to the naked eye after hatching, they can measure about 1 cm in their final larval stage. The duration of larval development can vary from 5 days to several weeks depending on temperature and nutritional conditions. If the water source dries up, the larva dies.
The adult mosquito
The adult tiger mosquito is distinguished by its black color, striped legs, and the characteristic white stripe running across its thorax. Its size varies depending on the nutrition it received during the larval stage; consequently, tiger mosquitoes come in various sizes.
Its home range is usually limited to a radius of 50 meters around the water source from which it emerged, though it may sometimes venture a little further. However, it does not remain in direct contact with the water source from which it emerges; as an adult, it seeks out cool, damp areas of vegetation for shelter.
Adult mosquitoes feed mainly on flower nectar. However, females need protein to produce eggs, which is why they feed on the blood of humans and certain animals.
The female preparing to lay eggs
A few days after biting and feeding on blood, a female tiger mosquito is capable of laying up to a hundred eggs.
It is capable of detecting areas with standing water, whether they are visible in the open or more hidden, such as those accessible through conduits like pipes. The moisture released and the odors emitted by the microorganisms present in the water serve as detection signals.
Once a spawning site has been identified, the female may lay all or some of her eggs, which she deposits individually on the edges, a few millimeters above the water’s surface.
These eggs can dehydrate and remain dormant for several months until they are submerged. They can also withstand sub-freezing temperatures during the winter.
The female will then lay her remaining eggs at other sites or set out in search of another blood meal to begin a new egg-laying cycle.
Helping You Regain Control
The Wiliv app was designed to be a true everyday companion.
It helps you:
- install your devices correctly;
- track supplies;
- set reminders;
- take the right preventive measures;
- to better understand mosquito behavior.
The goal is simple: to help you take effective action, without any complications.
Measured results, not just assumptions.
At Wiliv, we don't want to make vague promises.
Our devices have been tested under real-world conditions and evaluated by independent laboratories. Our Willo mosquito repellent unit has also been officially approved by ANSES.
But beyond the numbers, what really matters to us is what our customers get out of it: meals outdoors, more peaceful evenings, and the simple pleasure of enjoying their garden without having to constantly worry about it.
At its core, our mission is quite simple.
To let everyone enjoy their outdoor space again without being bothered by mosquitoes all summer long.
A garden.
A patio.
A barbecue with friends.
An open window in the evening.
Simple things, but ones we truly appreciate when we can finally enjoy them in peace.