Controlling Mosquitoes by Classical or Transgenic Sterile Insect Techniques

Abstract

For centuries, humans have attempted to control insect populations. This is in part because of the significant mortality and morbidity burden associated with insect vector-borne diseases, but also due to the huge economic impact of insect pests leading to losses in global food production. The development of transgenic technologies, coupled with sterile insect techniques (SIT), is being explored in relation to new approaches for the biological control of insect pests. In this talk, I explore the impact of two control strategies (classical SIT and transgenic late-acting bisex lethality) using a stage-structured mathematical model, which is parameterized for the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which can spread yellow fever, dengue fever and Chikungunya disease. Counter to the majority of studies, I use realistic pulsed release strategies and incorporate a fitness cost, which is manifested as a reduction in male mating competitiveness. I will explore the timing of control release in constant and cyclic wild-type mosquito populations, and demonstrate that this timing is critical for effective pest management. Furthermore, I will incorporate these control strategies into an integrated pest management program (IPM) and find the optimal release strategy. Finally, I will extend the models to a spatial context, determining conditions for the prevention of mosquito invasion by the use of a barrier wall