Pilot Suppression trial of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes through an Integrated Vector Management strategy including the Sterile Insect Technique in Mauritius

Abstract

It is often difficult to control the vector mosquito Aedes albopictus using conventional chemical control methods alone at an operational level mainly because of (1) the ability of the species to lay eggs in a variety of places which are often difficult to detect or access by larviciding operators, (2) the inherent tendency of adults to live and feed outdoor which makes them unlikely targets of Insecticide Residual Spraying and (3) the development of resistance to insecticides by the species. It is therefore necessary for countries to investigate alternative control methods (such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)) that can be integrated in their national vector control programme in order to address those limitations. In this field trial, mass-produced, radio-sterilized Ae. albopictus males could successfully compete with wild males in a small village in Mauritius. Our study also demonstrated that within specific eco-climatic conditions, SIT can be used as a suppression tool against Ae. albopictus and, unlike numerous chemical control methods, effectively maintain the suppression level when the latter is found at low densities. Finally, the need for mosquito SIT programmes to develop contingency plans against increasingly frequent extreme weather occurrences was also highlighted.