Florida Keys Mosquito Control District-Oxitec Mosquito Project Reaches Successful Conclusion of Mosquito Release Phase of Project in the Florida Keys
MEDIA ADVISORY
DATE: 3 November 2023
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District-Oxitec Mosquito Project Reaches Successful Conclusion of Mosquito Release Phase of Project in the Florida Keys
Non-biting male mosquito releases carried out during the third year of the successful FKMCD-Oxitec pilot project have come to an end for 2023.
In the three pilot seasons the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District (FKMCD) and Oxitec have together demonstrated that Oxitec non-biting, male Aedes aegypti mosquitoes perform well in the field, can reduce the local abundance of the invasive Aedes aegypti mosquito, and have enabled the optimization of just-add-water egg release devices.
These male mosquito releases followed federal approval in March 2022 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and in May 2022 from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).
Marathon, FL: Oxitec and FKMCD announce that the ‘release phase’ carried out during the third season of the FKMCD-Oxitec Mosquito Project has concluded for the 2023 season. Mosquito population monitoring will continue for the next several weeks.
During this phase, Oxitec’s male mosquitoes were marked, released and recaptured to track their biological performance parameters, such as lifespan and dispersal; and just-add-water devices were tested and optimized for performance in Florida Keys communities.
Oxitec’s just-add-water mosquito boxes were placed on the individual properties of volunteer residents in three release areas: Vaca Key, Fat Deer Key, Grassy Key, Duck Key and Coco Plum, with untreated comparison sites monitored on Vaca Key, Key Colony Beach and Conch Key.
Monitoring of the local mosquito population is continuing into 2024. Oxitec’s self-limiting technology means that any female offspring from encounters between Oxitec’s male mosquitoes and invasive female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes cannot survive.
Oxitec mosquitoes are proven to control the invasive, disease transmitting Aedes aegypti mosquito, which has been established throughout the Florida Keys. Oxitec’s targeted biological pest control technology is safe, sustainable, and harmless to the local ecosystem, including beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
FKMCD and Oxitec will continue their collaboration in the coming year on surveillance, operational focus areas, and work in the laboratory.
FKMCD and Oxitec shared a Progress Report on the 2023 Project in their Public Educational Webinar, held on July 27 2023. This was the 23rd in the series, with all past webinars available to watch on keysmosquitoproject.com/resources. The next webinar is tentatively set for December 7 2023.
Press Inquiries:
Florida Keys Mosquito Control District
Chad Huff, Public Education & Information Officer
O: 305-292-7190
C: 305-481-2207
Oxitec
+1-202-792-3080
Additional resources:
• The U.S. EPA’s approval of and complete risk assessment of the pilot project;
• The U.S. EPA’s responses to public comments;
• 100+ independent peer-reviewed scientific publications on Oxitec technology;
• Oxitec’s announcement of pilot results in Brazil;
• The FKMCD – Oxitec Mosquito Project website.
About Oxitec
Oxitec is the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. Founded in 2002 at the University of Oxford, Oxitec is led by a passionate team comprised of 15 nationalities and is supported by world-class public, private and non-profit partners.
Learn more at oxitec.com.