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:
We 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 through 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 occurs naturally in some mosquitoes and influences 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 takes laboratory-reared male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia and releases 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 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 predicts 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:
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Genetically characterize naturally occurring Wolbachia pipientis - strain wPip - diversity in C. quinquefasciatus across the islands of Kaua‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i and Palmyra.
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Genetically characterize Wolbachia bacteria wAlbB - infecting C. quinquefasciatus developed for IIT using the same techniques used to characterize W. pipientis.
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Develop next-generation genetic sequencing tools to regularly screen thousands of individual mosquitos. These tools can be used to monitor Wolbachia diversity in C. quinquefaciatus populations to ensure that population suppression efforts are maintained over time.
Field trials to test new trap technologies for monitoring Culex populations and the efficacy of the biopesticide formulation VectoMax® FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus in the Alaka'i Plateau, Kaua'i, Hawaii
Genetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in Culex quinquefasciatus from Hawai`i, Midway Atoll, and Samoa
Avian malaria in Hawaiian forest birds: Infection and population impacts across species and elevations
Larval habitat for the avian malaria vector culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in altered mid-elevation mesic-dry forests in Hawai'i
Modeling the population dynamics of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culcidae), along an elevational gradient in Hawaii
Bottlenecks and multiple introductions: Population genetics of the vector of avian malaria in Hawaii
- Overview
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.
While still common at higher elevations, 'I'iwi are extremely susceptible to avian malaria. Mortality is as high as 90% after exposure to a single infective mosquito bite under laboratory conditions. PC: PIERC, unknown date. Overview:
We 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 through 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 occurs naturally in some mosquitoes and influences 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 takes laboratory-reared male mosquitoes infected with Wolbachia and releases 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 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 predicts 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, 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 mosquitos. These tools can be used to monitor Wolbachia diversity in C. quinquefaciatus populations to ensure that population suppression efforts are maintained over time.
-
- Science
- Publications
Field trials to test new trap technologies for monitoring Culex populations and the efficacy of the biopesticide formulation VectoMax® FG for control of larval Culex quinquefasciatus in the Alaka'i Plateau, Kaua'i, Hawaii
Mosquito-borne avian malaria Plasmodium relictum is a key limiting factor for endemic Hawaiian forest birds. In the past decade, populations of Kaua‘i’s endemic forest birds have been in a steep decline due to an increase in malaria transmission. To evaluate the use of available biopesticides for short-term mosquito control we tested the efficacy of the biopesticide VectoMax® FG against Culex quinAuthorsDennis Lapointe, Theodore V. Black, Michael Riney, Grace Tredinnick, Lisa H. Crampton, Justin HiteGenetic diversity of Wolbachia endosymbionts in Culex quinquefasciatus from Hawai`i, Midway Atoll, and Samoa
Incompatible insect techniques are potential methods for controlling Culex quinquefasciatus and avian disease transmission in Hawai‘i without the use of pesticides or genetically modified organisms. The approach is based on naturally occurring sperm-egg incompatibilities within the Culex pipiens complex that are controlled by different strains of the bacterial endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis (wPiAuthorsCarter T. Atkinson, William Watcher-Weatherwax, Dennis LapointeAvian malaria in Hawaiian forest birds: Infection and population impacts across species and elevations
Wildlife diseases can present significant threats to ecological systems and biological diversity, as well as domestic animal and human health. However, determining the dynamics of wildlife diseases and understanding the impact on host populations is a significant challenge. In Hawai‘i, there is ample circumstantial evidence that introduced avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) has played an importanAuthorsMichael D. Samuel, Bethany L. Woodworth, Carter T. Atkinson, P. J. Hart, Dennis LaPointeLarval habitat for the avian malaria vector culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in altered mid-elevation mesic-dry forests in Hawai'i
Effective management of avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) in Hawai'i's endemic honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) requires the identification and subsequent reduction or treatment of larval habitat for the mosquito vector, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae). We conducted ground surveys, treehole surveys, and helicopter aerial surveys from 20012003 to identify all potential larval mosquito habAuthorsM.E. Reiter, D.A. LapointeModeling the population dynamics of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culcidae), along an elevational gradient in Hawaii
We present a population model to understand the effects of temperature and rainfall on the population dynamics of the southern house mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus Say, along an elevational gradient in Hawaii. We use a novel approach to model the effects of temperature on population growth by dynamically incorporating developmental rate into the transition matrix, by using physiological ages ofAuthorsJorge A. Ahumada, Dennis LaPointe, Michael D. SamuelBottlenecks and multiple introductions: Population genetics of the vector of avian malaria in Hawaii
Avian malaria has had a profound impact on the demographics and behaviour of Hawaiian forest birds since its vector, Culex quinquefasciatusthe southern house mosquito, was first introduced to Hawaii around 1830. In order to understand the dynamics of the disease in Hawaii and gain insights into the evolution of vector-mediated parasite–host interactions in general we studied the population geneticAuthorsDina M. Fonseca, Dennis A. LaPointe, Robert C. Fleischer