Identifying Genetic Diversity of Wolbachia Bacteria for Mosquito Control
We are sequencing the DNA of Wolbachia bacteria found in mosquito populations in Hawai’i and those used for mosquito control. We are also developing sample processing techniques to increase the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring mosquito control efforts to help long-term survival and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird populations.
Overview:
USGS researchers are collaborating with the Hawai‘i Department of Forestry and Wildlife on Maui and Kaua‘i to identify and develop genetic tools that help monitor the success of mosquito control efforts using the Incompatible Insect Technique and help long-term survival of forest bird species throughout the Hawaiian Islands and beyond.
Landscape-level mosquito control is key to the long-term survival and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird populations. The Hawai‘i Birds, Not Mosquitoes consortium proposes an experimental mosquito control test of an Incompatible Insect Technique—IIT. IIT uses Wolbachia bacteria to influence the reproductive capacity of an insect, in this case the southern house mosquito—Culex quinquefasciatus.
Wolbachia bacteria occur naturally in some mosquitoes and influence the reproductive capacity of a mosquito. One way that Wolbachia can affect mosquito reproduction is by interfering with egg development, acting like mosquito birth control. IIT involves taking laboratory-reared male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia and releasing them to mate with the wild population. The result is eggs fail to hatch, which reduces the overall mosquito population size. Over time, use of IIT can significantly reduce mosquito populations and help prevent the spread of harmful avian disease.
The Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve, Waikamoi Preserve, Haleakalā National Park - Kīpahulu Valley, and Hanawi and Nakula Natural Area Reserves on Maui and Kaua‘i are the remaining habitat for endangered ‘akikiki, ‘akeke‘e, puaiohi, ‘ākohekohe, kiwikiu and other threatened Hawaiian honeycreepers. Hawaiian honeycreepers and other forest bird populations throughout the State of Hawai‘i are impacted by avian disease, such as avian pox and avian malaria. Both of these diseases are transmitted from bird to bird by mosquitoes. Estimates of the impact of avian disease on native bird populations under various climate change scenarios predict severe declines and potential species extinctions in all remaining forest habitat within the next 50–80 years. Landscape-level mosquito control is key to the long-term survival and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird populations.
Objectives:
- Genetically characterize naturally occurring Wolbachia pipientis - strain wPip - diversity in C. quinquefasciatus across the islands of Kaua‘i, Maui, Island of Hawai‘i and Palmyra.
- Genetically characterize Wolbachia bacteria wAlbB - infecting C. quinquefasciatus developed for IIT using the same techniques used to characterize W. pipientis.
- Develop next-generation genetic sequencing tools to regularly screen thousands of individual mosquitoes. These tools can be used to monitor Wolbachia diversity in C. quinquefasciatus populations to ensure that population suppression efforts are maintained over time.
We are sequencing the DNA of Wolbachia bacteria found in mosquito populations in Hawai’i and those used for mosquito control. We are also developing sample processing techniques to increase the efficiency and accuracy of monitoring mosquito control efforts to help long-term survival and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird populations.
Overview:
USGS researchers are collaborating with the Hawai‘i Department of Forestry and Wildlife on Maui and Kaua‘i to identify and develop genetic tools that help monitor the success of mosquito control efforts using the Incompatible Insect Technique and help long-term survival of forest bird species throughout the Hawaiian Islands and beyond.
Landscape-level mosquito control is key to the long-term survival and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird populations. The Hawai‘i Birds, Not Mosquitoes consortium proposes an experimental mosquito control test of an Incompatible Insect Technique—IIT. IIT uses Wolbachia bacteria to influence the reproductive capacity of an insect, in this case the southern house mosquito—Culex quinquefasciatus.
Wolbachia bacteria occur naturally in some mosquitoes and influence the reproductive capacity of a mosquito. One way that Wolbachia can affect mosquito reproduction is by interfering with egg development, acting like mosquito birth control. IIT involves taking laboratory-reared male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia and releasing them to mate with the wild population. The result is eggs fail to hatch, which reduces the overall mosquito population size. Over time, use of IIT can significantly reduce mosquito populations and help prevent the spread of harmful avian disease.
The Alaka‘i Wilderness Preserve, Waikamoi Preserve, Haleakalā National Park - Kīpahulu Valley, and Hanawi and Nakula Natural Area Reserves on Maui and Kaua‘i are the remaining habitat for endangered ‘akikiki, ‘akeke‘e, puaiohi, ‘ākohekohe, kiwikiu and other threatened Hawaiian honeycreepers. Hawaiian honeycreepers and other forest bird populations throughout the State of Hawai‘i are impacted by avian disease, such as avian pox and avian malaria. Both of these diseases are transmitted from bird to bird by mosquitoes. Estimates of the impact of avian disease on native bird populations under various climate change scenarios predict severe declines and potential species extinctions in all remaining forest habitat within the next 50–80 years. Landscape-level mosquito control is key to the long-term survival and restoration of Hawaiian forest bird populations.
Objectives:
- Genetically characterize naturally occurring Wolbachia pipientis - strain wPip - diversity in C. quinquefasciatus across the islands of Kaua‘i, Maui, Island of Hawai‘i and Palmyra.
- Genetically characterize Wolbachia bacteria wAlbB - infecting C. quinquefasciatus developed for IIT using the same techniques used to characterize W. pipientis.
- Develop next-generation genetic sequencing tools to regularly screen thousands of individual mosquitoes. These tools can be used to monitor Wolbachia diversity in C. quinquefasciatus populations to ensure that population suppression efforts are maintained over time.