In Austria, the "tiger mosquito" (Aedes albopictus) was first identified in 2012 and has since spread across all federal states of the country. Graz has faced an increase in mosquito populations in recent years, leading to a rise in complaints from the public and an increased risk of the spread of arboviruses in Europe. In response, the city sought assistance from the IAEA, headquartered in Vienna, requesting the initiation of a study on the MRR method.
The MRR method involves the release of pre-marked sterile male mosquitoes in a specific area, followed by recapture to study the behavior of the local insect population.
Experiment Process
In August and September of last year, over 800,000 sterile mosquitoes were released over an area of 15 hectares in the southern part of Graz over a period of seven weeks."The rise in mosquito populations, including invasive species such as Aedes albopictus, is observed worldwide and in Europe due to climate change, urbanization, and increased international trade. Changes in temperature and precipitation levels create ideal conditions for reproduction, allowing species previously confined to the tropics to adapt in temperate regions. This range expansion poses serious threats to public health, as mosquitoes can transmit dangerous diseases such as chikungunya, dengue, and the Zika virus," the organization noted.
Data Analysis
The data collected during the recapture of mosquitoes provides important scientific information about the size of the wild population, the ability of sterile males to cover distances, their survival in the wild, and their competitiveness during mating.Effectiveness of the Proposed Method
Preliminary results of the study showed a high effectiveness of the proposed method. The sterility rate of the eggs was about 70%, and the number of females caught in traps significantly decreased during the experiment compared to a neighboring untreated area. This confirms that sterile males successfully compete with wild ones, and their release can significantly reduce mosquito populations in urban areas.Photo on the main page: IAEA.
