Aedes aegypti mosquitoes pose significant management challenges due to their daytime activity and cryptic breeding habitats, making traditional control techniques less effective. Additionally, these mosquitoes are increasingly resistant to insecticides. The Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD), established in 1958 in southwest Florida, has long worked to mitigate the public health threats posed by these mosquitoes. Urbanization and rising insecticide resistance have necessitated alternative combat methods against this resilient species.
A new pilot project using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is now being implemented to control mosquito populations in Fort Myers. SIT, an eco-friendly pest control method, involves sterilizing male insects with radiation and releasing them to mate with wild females, resulting in fewer or no offspring. This pilot project benefits from extrabudgetary funding from the IAEA’s Peaceful Uses Initiative (PUI).
Rui Cardoso Pereira, Head of the Insect Pest Control at the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, emphasized the importance of PUI funds from the USA in improving the SIT package for Aedes mosquitoes and transferring it to pilot projects. Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can spread diseases like chikungunya, dengue, yellow fever, and Zika, posing a significant public health threat and contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 3, good health.
Sterile mosquito releases are being conducted in Captiva Island, FL. The pilot project was first tested on Captiva Island, about 30 miles from Fort Myers, from 2020 to 2022. During this period, approximately 400,000 sterile males were released weekly, leading to significant population reduction in 2020 and complete suppression in 2021 and 2022. Scientists compared ecological indexes between Sanibel Island (the control area) and Captiva Island, where the sterile mosquitoes were released. Rachel Morreale, Manager of the Applied Science and Technologies Department at LCMCD, highlighted the remarkable impacts of sterile male releases on the Ae. aegypti population on Captiva.
However, Hurricane Ian devastated Captiva and Sanibel islands in September 2022, ending the pilot project due to inaccessible conditions. Consequently, LCMCD relocated the release program to the mainland earlier than planned. Using lessons from Captiva Island, LCMCD collected baseline data to inform sterile male Ae. aegypti releases in Fort Myers, which began in February 2024. Despite the premature move, the Captiva Island project validated SIT as an integral part of mosquito management in Lee County. LCMCD is hopeful for similar success in Fort Myers, aiming to protect local residents.
David Hoel, Executive Director of LCMCD, acknowledged the unique attributes of the program and the technical expertise provided by the IAEA. He noted that the program offers a promising approach for future prevention of mosquito-borne diseases in Lee County, Florida.
Google News