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Entomology Unit

Mosquitoes

Methods Development

SIT technology is being developed for Anopheles arabiensis. Colonies have been established including one from the field site in Sudan. Methods development is needed for rearing, sterilization and distribution of male An. arabiensis mosquitoes.

It will involve:

Developing methods of mass rearing:

Research will be conducted on critical aspects of large-scale Anopheles rearing including adult holding, egg handling, larval rearing and pupal collection. This will include improving membrane feeding of blood to adult females and improvements to blood diet or substitutes.

An. arabiensis feeding through membrane

Improving sterilization, handling and release methodology:

Radiation procedures will be evaluated to enable pupae or adults to be efficiently sterilized at doses that do not compromise the competitiveness of the insect. Techniques for aerial release and distribution will also have to be investigated.

Rearing cages

Devising genetic and molecular methods for the production of males:

Any SIT programme for mosquitoes will require the release of males only. Genetic sexing methods must be developed using either classical approaches that have already been successful for other mosquito species or methods based on genetic transformation.

Improving field evaluation of released mosquitoes:

This will entail developing methods for assessing male behaviour and competitiveness, migration and monitoring of released male mosquitoes. It is planned to develop a semi-field rearing system at the Unit.