Scripts for analyses in R.

Aedes aegypti, an aggressive nuisance biter and the primary vector for numerous arboviruses, such as chikungunya, dengue, and Zika, presents significant control challenges due to its ability to thrive in urban environments, escapes insecticide treatment by using cryptic resting and oviposition sites, and development of resistance to chemical mosquito control products being used routinely. From 2020 to 2022, the Lee County Mosquito Control District (LCMCD) employed the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) to test a new approach in its integrated mosquito management toolbox, targeting the population suppression of Ae. aegypti on Captiva Island, Florida. Over 24.1 million sterile males were released across three phases, covering up to 142 hectares. The study demonstrated a population reduction of up to 79% in wild adults and a 59% decline in egg densities in the primary intervention area. While population control was successful, an influx of wild females from untreated zones posed ongoing challenges to complete suppression in areas close to non-intervention areas. This supported a need for an area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) approach. These results underscore SIT’s potential as a critical tool in integrated mosquito management strategies and emphasize practical application.

埃及伊蚊（Aedes aegypti）是一种攻击性骚扰吸血昆虫，同时也是基孔肯雅热、登革热及寨卡病毒等多种虫媒病毒（arboviruses）的主要传播媒介。该蚊种可在城市环境中高效滋生，通过隐蔽栖息与产卵位点躲避杀虫剂防治，且对常规使用的化学灭蚊产品产生抗药性，因此防控难度极大。2020年至2022年间，佛罗里达州李县灭蚊区（Lee County Mosquito Control District, LCMCD）在其综合蚊虫防控工具箱中引入昆虫不育技术（Sterile Insect Technique, SIT）作为全新防控方案，在佛罗里达州卡普蒂瓦岛开展针对埃及伊蚊的种群压制试验。试验分三个阶段实施，累计释放超2410万只不育雄蚊，防控覆盖面积最高达142公顷。研究结果显示，核心干预区域内野生成蚊种群数量最高下降79%，卵密度降低59%。尽管种群压制成效显著，但未防控区域迁入的野生雌蚊持续对邻近非干预区域的完全种群抑制造成阻碍。这一结果凸显了采用全域综合虫害管理（area-wide integrated pest management, AW-IPM）策略的必要性。本研究证实了昆虫不育技术作为综合蚊虫防控策略核心工具的应用潜力，并为其实际落地应用提供了实践支撑。