We weren’t lying when we told you that, unexpectedly, mosquitoes in Los Angeles are more prevalent than in any other city in the country. Well, it seems that this overpopulation has put authorities on high alert, prompting them to officially declare war against the invasive mosquito species, Aedes aegypti.
As per a news release dated April 12 by the Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District, a peculiar tactic forms part of a concerted effort to combat the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, known for its aggressive nature and aptly dubbed the “ankle biter.”
Steve Vetrone, the agency’s director of scientific-technical services, informed the media that starting from May 16 until the end of October, tens of thousands of sterilized Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Los Angeles, will be released weekly in the Sunland-Tujunga area, a picturesque community nestled in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. The initiative is also set to extend to Orange County, although the specific timing remains unspecified.
The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) involves using X-ray sterilized male mosquitoes, often marked with a special fluorescent dye, and releasing them in specific areas to mate with females. This disrupts their reproductive cycle, resulting in non-viable eggs. These lab-reared male mosquitoes cannot bite or transmit diseases. Historically, this method has successfully controlled populations of voracious Mediterranean fruit flies and screwworms, which are maggots that feed on living tissue.
Why do we require glow-in-the-dark mosquitoes? The website of the vector control district explains that Aedes mosquitoes have built up resistance to insecticides, making them challenging to eliminate. Since their detection in Los Angeles County in 2011, they have quickly proliferated, depositing eggs in yards and patios. Consequently, the department is turning to the sterile insect technique to hinder their further spread.
The district plans to release 32,000 male mosquitoes per week initially, gradually increasing to 60,000, and then reducing the release rate in the fall. This could amount to approximately one million mosquitoes. Aedes mosquitoes will be released by workers carrying them on foot. As male mosquitoes are introduced, there may be a noticeable uptick in the overall insect population, but residents should anticipate a decrease in biting activity, according to authorities.