PhotonMatrix: Laser mosquito catcher coming in October

For most of us, mosquitoes are just annoying insects that buzz around our ears. These nuisances need to be neutralized every now and then with a classic wave of the hand, a racket, or with a more sophisticated technique like PhotonMatrix. This is actually a new mosquito control system that is still in development, but already destroys the flying insects with short-range laser pulses.

It uses LIDAR to detect the presence of insects in real time. The current prototype can identify mosquitoes and other similar insects between 2 and 20 millimeters in size, flying at speeds of less than one meter per second. When the device detects a suitable target, the laser is automatically triggered and destroys the insect in flight.

The system is completely physical, without the use of chemicals, and is based on specific detection criteria, rather than artificial intelligence or probabilistic models. It uses size limits to prevent the laser from activating when larger objects, such as people, pets or birds, enter. In practice, this means that the laser is not triggered in the presence of larger objects. Although the developers plan to obtain the appropriate safety certificates, they do not yet have any official sales license. The device is powered via a USB-C interface and can work with any battery pack that supports the PD (Power Delivery) protocol or standard.

The novelty is intended for use outdoors or in semi-enclosed spaces, and works both day and night. It is recommended to mount it under the ceiling or under solar panels, where the device will be protected from rain and dust. Although the novelty was originally developed for mosquito control, it can also successfully target slower insects such as fruit flies or sand flies. However, the device is less effective against faster insects such as house flies, unless a narrower scanning angle is used. The disadvantage of this is that the range is significantly reduced.

PhotonMatrix is currently raising funds on the startup platform Indiegogo. It has already raised more than 375,000 euros. This is more than 20 times the initial goal of around 18,500 euros. Backers get the device at a discounted price, with free shipping and taxes included (except for the battery surcharge).

The initial delivery was planned for March 2026, but due to demand from distributors in tropical and temperate regions, it was postponed to October 2025, in order to arrive before the start of the southern hemisphere summer. Although the prototype is already operational, it has not yet been independently tested and is not commercially certified. Production costs are currently high, but the developers hope to reduce prices in future and improved versions. Whether the device will actually work reliably in unpredictable conditions is not yet known. In any case, the PhotonMatrix represents an ambitious but as yet untested alternative to the classic control of mosquitoes and other annoying insects.