Even in paradise, a few tiny pests can put a damper on an otherwise idyllic vacation. But at one Caribbean resort, guests can now sip frosty drinks by the pool, enjoy long dinners outdoors, or watch sunsets from the sand—all without swatting away mosquitoes.
Accessible only by boat or helicopter, Oil Nut Bay is a luxury resort and residential that occupies 400 acres on the eastern end of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands, and it’s home to villas, beaches, restaurants, a marina, pools, a nature center, and an overwater spa. As of recently, it has also become the Caribbean’s first virtually mosquito-free resort, and it pulled off the impressive feat with an eco-friendlier, nature-based program that doesn’t rely on traditional chemical spraying.
Working with the BVI environmental nonprofit Green VI and Debug, a Google project specializing in insect-control technology, the resort launched the BugOut Program to target two invasive species. According to Oil Nut Bay, the initiative has reduced populations of a day-biting mosquito by 98 percent, and the night-biting one by as much as 96 percent.
The results offer more than relief from itchy bites: Mosquitoes are among the deadliest animals on earth, with some transmitting viruses that include dengue fever, Zika, and West Nile virus.
