Citizen-art-science approach to Aedes albopictus control: a case study on Procida island using sterile insect technique

Aedes albopictus, commonly known as the Asian tiger mosquito, first appeared in Italy in the early 1990s and has since rapidly expanded its range across the country. Its extensive spread and potential to drive new outbreaks make it a significant public health concern. To address this threat, vector control continues to be a key element in disease prevention, with innovative genetic strategies such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) providing sustainable and effective alternatives to traditional methods based on pesticides. Our study was conducted on the island of Procida, located in the Gulf of Naples, Italy. Two areas on the island with similar sizes and comparable mosquito population dynamics were identified: the test area (Chiaiolella) and the control area (Starza). With the involvement of local citizens, we monitored the temporal dynamics, spatial distribution, and population size of Ae. albopictus in both areas using ovitraps and BG-GAT traps. In Chiaiolella, 100 release sites for sterile male mosquitoes were identified, each spaced approximately 50 meters apart to ensure uniform coverage and minimize the effect of possible immigration of external wild mosquito females. From May to October 2024, approx. 100,000 sterile males were released weekly in collaboration with local administrators and citizens as part of a Citizen-Art-Science initiative developed with the Naples Academy of Fine Arts. This approach actively involved citizens in every phase of the project. They participated in environmental cleanup efforts by removing larval sites, contributed to the release activities of sterile males, and generously offered their gardens for monitoring purposes. In October, after the sterile male release period ended, we observed a significant reduction in both the number of eggs and adult female mosquitoes in the test area compared to the control area, with an approximate 50% reduction in the test area. Sterility tests conducted on the collected eggs showed a sterility rate of around 40% in the test area, while in the control area, approximately 95% of the eggs successfully hatched.