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Collier Mosquito Control Launches Innovative Sterile Insect Technique Pilot Program

by Decyo McDuffie

n January, Collier Mosquito Control
District (District) launched a new
Isterile 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
SIT will not replace traditional methods of mosquito
no risks to humas, pets, wildlife or the environment. These
control but serves as another valuable tool in an integrated pest
sterile male mosquitoes compete with wild male mosquitoes to
management plan. These different techniques work together to
attract mates, with the goal of lowering the overall mosquito
lower mosquito populations and reduce the risk of disease in our
population in the treatment area.
community. While SIT will not replace traditional methods, it
Due to Ae. aegpyti’s resistance to traditional mosquito
may reduce the need for treatments that target Ae. aegypti, but it
control methods, it is often a challenge to find new ways to
will not reduce the need to control other species of mosquitoes.
keep their populations under control. SIT takes advantage of
The District’s number one priority is protecting the health
mosquitoes’ natural biological instincts to bring down their
of the residents and visitors we serve and is always searching for
populations and help reduce the risk of disease. This approach
solutions to help control mosquito populations. Biological control
has been used successfully in Lee County and even helped
options like mosquitofish and SIT are valuable tools that help
Florida eradicate screwworms in the state in the 1960s.
target difficult to treat areas and species.
In the beginning of January, traps were set up in Golden
To learn more about the District’s SIT program, visit our
Gate City to collect data and population numbers. This data
website at https://cmcd.org/science/sit/
will help the District track the effectiveness of the program
If you would like to learn more about mosquito control or
throughout the year. Sterile mosquito releases will begin in
schedule a tour of our facilities, you can email us at
the spring and continue through the end of peak mosquito
info@cmcd.org
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.
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.

Life in Naples | February 2025 71