89 - Southern California SIT Joint Pilot Project: Partnering for The Future of Mosquito Control

Insect population control using the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) utilizing x-ray irradiation is not a new method in pest management. This SIT strategy has been successfully used for decades on a variety of pests across the globe. It is, however, a novel approach for use in mosquito control. Projects by groups in Florida, Texas, and Brazil are paving the way for mosquito control agencies to investigate the use of this technology on a local scale. The Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District (OCMVCD) and the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District (GLACVCD) initiated a partnership in late 2021 to conduct an SIT Joint Pilot Project. The projected 5-year pilot project aims to study the effects of releasing irradiated adult male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in urban areas of southern California. This discussion will highlight the steps involved in starting a joint project, outline the study’s goals and objectives, and provide an overview of the project’s status.