A standardised method of marking male mosquitoes with fluorescent dust

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Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti are invasive mosquito species that impose a substantial risk to human health. To control the abundance and spread of these arboviral pathogen vectors, the sterile insect technique (SIT) is emerging as a powerful complement to most commonly-used approaches, in part, because this technique is ecologically benign, specific, and non-persistent in the environment if releases are stopped. Because SIT and other similar vector control strategies are becoming of increasing interest to many countries, we offer here a pragmatic and accessible ‘roadmap’ for the pre-pilot and pilot phases to guide any interested party. This will support stakeholders, non-specialist scientists, implementers, and decision-makers. Applying these concepts will ensure, given adequate resources, a sound basis for local field trialing and for developing experience with the technique in readiness for potential operational deployment. This synthesis is based on the available literature, in addition to the experience and current knowledge of the expert contributing authors in this field. We describe a typical path to successful pilot testing, with the four concurrent development streams of Laboratory, Field, Stakeholder Relations, and the Business and Compliance Case. We provide a graphic framework with criteria that must be met in order to proceed.

Section: Marking Mosquitoesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) against Aedes Species Mosquitoes: A Roadmap and Good Practice Framework for Designing, Implementing and Evaluating Pilot Field Trials

Oliva

Benedict²,

Collins

et al. 2021

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“…aegypti [ 10 ], An. arabiensis [ 28 ], and Psorophora mosquitoes [ 26 ], where transference occurred from marked males to unmarked females, from marked males to both males and females, and from marked to unmarked individuals in a confined space, respectively. Differences in study findings, like a higher amount of powder transfer in Ae.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Powder transference between different sex individuals and during copulation has been observed when placing equal numbers of Drosophila pseudoobscura dusted nonvirgin males and females; some genital transfer if nonvirgin individuals were allowed to clean themselves before mixing them under moderately crowded conditions; and no transfer during mating of virgin adults [ 6 ]. Studies using Anopheles arabiensis found that males are capable of transferring the mark, only detectable when examined under a stereoscope, to both males and females and that this transference increased over time [ 28 ], but no powder transference among adult mosquito mating pairs was found using Culex quinquefasciatus marked males and unmarked females [ 29 ]. Transference between marked males to unmarked females was also reported when using fluorescent powders in Ae.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differentiation of Multiple Fluorescent Powders, Powder Transfer, and Effect on Mating in Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

Rojas-Araya

Alto

Cummings

et al. 2020

Five different fluorescent powders (orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet) were tested on Aedes aegypti adults to evaluate the differentiation of multiple fluorescent powder colors applied externally in the same female mosquito, their effect on coupling time, copulation time, insemination success, mate choice, and the extent of transference of powders between marked and unmarked individuals, either during copulation or same-sex interactions. Marking with multiple powders was evaluated after applying different powders in the same female at different times and combinations. The comparative effect of powders on mating was explored using different cross-combinations of marked/unmarked couples. Transference of powders between marked/unmarked individuals after copulation was checked in mated individuals, and between same-sex interactions by allowing them to interact under crowded and uncrowded conditions. Identification of the colors included in multiple markings in the same individual was possible when exploring almost all combinations (exception: green–yellow). No important effect of powder marking between cross-combinations was found on coupling time (overall 95% CI (Confidence Interval) 37.6–49.6 min), copulation time (overall 95% CI 17–20 s), insemination success, nor their mate choice. Transferred powder after copulation activity, concentrated in genitalia, legs, and the tip of wings, occurred in >80% of females and 100% of males. Powder transference in legs and genitalia, between same-sex individuals, occurred only in males (ranged between 23–35%) under both density conditions. The lack of important effects of these powders on the studied aspects of Ae. aegypti provides information about their usefulness and limitations, which should be recognized for future applications and to avoid bias.

“…A method was developed for marking ~70,000 sterile chilled male mosquitoes in 20 min [ 317 ]. This approach was integrated into protocols to conduct mark-release-recapture experiments allowing the estimation of their survival, dispersal and competitiveness [ 318 ].…”

Section: Main Research Achievements—human Disease Vectorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Insect Pest Control Laboratory of the Joint FAO/IAEA Programme: Ten Years (2010–2020) of Research and Development, Achievements and Challenges in Support of the Sterile Insect Technique

Vreysen

Abd-Alla

Bourtzis

et al. 2021

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The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre (formerly called Division) of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture was established in 1964 and its accompanying laboratories in 1961. One of its subprograms deals with insect pest control, and has the mandate to develop and implement the sterile insect technique (SIT) for selected key insect pests, with the goal of reducing the use of insecticides, reducing animal and crop losses, protecting the environment, facilitating international trade in agricultural commodities and improving human health. Since its inception, the Insect Pest Control Laboratory (IPCL) (formerly named Entomology Unit) has been implementing research in relation to the development of the SIT package for insect pests of crops, livestock and human health. This paper provides a review of research carried out between 2010 and 2020 at the IPCL. Research on plant pests has focused on the development of genetic sexing strains, characterizing and assessing the performance of these strains (e.g., Ceratitis capitata), elucidation of the taxonomic status of several members of the Bactrocera dorsalis and Anastrepha fraterculus complexes, the use of microbiota as probiotics, genomics, supplements to improve the performance of the reared insects, and the development of the SIT package for fruit fly species such as Bactrocera oleae and Drosophila suzukii. Research on livestock pests has focused on colony maintenance and establishment, tsetse symbionts and pathogens, sex separation, morphology, sterile male quality, radiation biology, mating behavior and transportation and release systems. Research with human disease vectors has focused on the development of genetic sexing strains (Anopheles arabiensis, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), the development of a more cost-effective larvae and adult rearing system, assessing various aspects of radiation biology, characterizing symbionts and pathogens, studying mating behavior and the development of quality control procedures, and handling and release methods. During the review period, 13 coordinated research projects (CRPs) were completed and six are still being implemented. At the end of each CRP, the results were published in a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal. The review concludes with an overview of future challenges, such as the need to adhere to a phased conditional approach for the implementation of operational SIT programs, the need to make the SIT more cost effective, to respond with demand driven research to solve the problems faced by the operational SIT programs and the use of the SIT to address a multitude of exotic species that are being introduced, due to globalization, and established in areas where they could not survive before, due to climate change.