Mark–Release–Recapture (MRR) of Sterile Male Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Sri Lanka: Field Performance of Sterile Males and Estimation of the Wild Mosquito Population Density

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Mark–Release–Recapture (MRR) of Sterile Male Aedes albopictus (Skuse) in Sri Lanka: Field Performance of Sterile Males and Estimation of the Wild Mosquito Population Density

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Hapugoda, Menaka, Nilmini Silva Gunawardena, Tharaka Ranathunge, Jeremy Bouyer, Hamidou Maiga, Kankanige Karunathilake, Gayan Parakrama Withanage, Indika Weerasinghe, Bazoumana B. D. Sow, and Jeevanie Harishchandra,  Insects,  15:466. 2024.

Dengue is an endemic disease in Sri Lanka causing frequent cyclical epidemics. Aedes albopictus is a dengue vector mosquito which is widely spread in many parts of the country. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a novel dengue vector control approach to be integrated with the currently available vector control methods. A series of Mark–Release–Recapture (MRR) experiments were conducted in Sri Lanka against Ae. albopictus using gamma-ray-sterilized males to evaluate the field performance of the sterilized males and estimate the wild mosquito population size to be used for future SIT trials. Results obtained from this study can be used for planning future pilot field trials in Sri Lanka.