Collier Mosquito Control Launches Innovative Sterile Insect Technique Pilot Program

By Decyo McDuffie
In January, Collier Mosquito Control District (District) launched a new sterile insect technique (SIT) pilot program in Golden Gate City targeting Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. This invasive species can spread diseases such as dengue, zika and chikungunya and is resistant to some traditional methods of mosquito control.
Golden Gate City was selected for this program because Ae. aegypti breed in small containers of water that are typically in close proximity to humas in residential and urban areas, and Golden Gate City provides ample breeding opportunities for the mosquito.
SIT involves releasing sterile male mosquitoes into the wild, causing the eggs laid by the females they mate with to be non-viable. These mosquitoes are bred in captivity from mosquitoes collected locally and are then sterilized using a low dose of x-rays before being released. Male mosquitoes do not bite, and releasing these mosquitoes into the wild poses no risks to humas, pets, wildlife or the environment.
These sterile male mosquitoes compete with wild male mosquitoes to attract mates, with the goal of lowering the overall mosquito population in the treatment area. Due to Ae. aegpyti’s resistance to traditional mosquito control methods, it is often a challenge to find new ways to keep their populations under control.
SIT takes advantage of mosquitoes’ natural biological instincts to bring down their populations and help reduce the risk of disease. This approach has been used successfully in Lee County and even helped Florida eradicate screwworms in the state in the 1960s.
In the beginning of January, traps were set up in Golden Gate City to collect data and population numbers. This data will help the District track the effectiveness of the program throughout the year. Sterile mosquito releases will begin in the spring and continue through the end of peak mosquito season sometime in the fall.
Nearly 650,000 sterilized male mosquitoes will be released to compete with wild male mosquitoes over the course of the program. SIT will not replace traditional methods of mosquito control but serves as another valuable tool in an integrated Pest management plan.
These different techniques work together to lower mosquito populations and reduce the risk of disease in our community.
While SIT will not replace traditional methods, it may reduce the need for treatments that target Ae. aegypti, but it will not reduce the need to control other species of mosquitoes.
The District’s number one priority is protecting the health of the residents and visitors we serve and is always searching for solutions to help control mosquito populations. Biological control options like mosquitofish and SIT are valuable tools that help target difficult to treat areas and species.
To learn more about the District’s SIT program, visit our website at https://cmcd.org/science/sit/
If you would like to learn more about mosquito control or schedule a tour of our facilities, you can email us at info@cmcd.org
To learn more about the Florida Mosquito Control Association, visit their website at www.yourfmca.org.
To learn more about the District or to sign up to receive treatment notifications, visit our website at www.cmcd.org.
The Collier Mosquito Control District works to safeguard the health and wellbeing of our residents through the safest and most economical means available. If you would like more information about how we control mosquitoes, please visit our website at cmcd.org or call us 239-436-1000.
Leave a Reply
Want to join the discussion?Feel free to contribute!