Abstract:
Aedes aegypti control is challenging due to its adaptation to urban settings, where the
mosquito species breeds in container habitats near homes. This report evaluates Integrated
Vector Management (IVM) in Riverside County with emphasis on the Sterile Insect Technique
(SIT) for Aedes aegypti. IVM includes sanitation and other cultural controls that include
breeding site removal, larval surveillance, and targeted larvicide disbursement. SIT
complements these measures by releasing sterilized male mosquitoes that mate with wild
females, producing eggs that do not hatch. This approach helps address the many small,
hard-to-treat containers where Aedes aegypti thrive.
This report describes how the Northwest Mosquito and Vector Control District
conducted its 2025 SIT pilot in Lake Elsinore. Three treatment plots and a control area were
monitored with routing trapping to assess male survivorship, dispersal, and female abundance
as indicators of program effects. As SIT requires time for dispersal, mating and egg laying,
measurable population changes were not observed within the short observation window.
During the internship, a widely shared Facebook post mischaracterized the pilot by
claiming “millions” of mosquitoes would be released and using an image that suggested a mass
dumping of mosquitos. In reality, operations involved planned releases of thousands per week
and within defined sections of a Lake Elsinore neighborhood. The post drew substantial
engagement, with many comments ranging from mild frustration to hostility and conspiracy
claims. To avoid future incidents, this report recommends plain-language, image-accurate,
frequent and informative updates for the public, and same-day corrections to third-party errors
to limit misinformation.