Document Type
Full Length Article
Abstract
Sterile insect technique (SIT) is an increasingly important strategy for controlling mosquito populations while reducing reliance on chemical insecticides and genetically modified organisms. A major limitation of SIT is the reduced fitness and competitiveness of irradiated male mosquitoes, which can compromise population suppression efforts. This study investigates whether hormetic ethanol exposure improves post-irradiation fitness in Aedes aegypti males, a primary vector of dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. Adult male mosquitoes were fed either a standard sugar solution or a sugar solution supplemented with 5% ethanol prior to irradiation. Males were sterilized using X-ray irradiation at 50 Gy and assessed for locomotor activity immediately after irradiation and 48 hours post-irradiation using a locomotor activity monitor (LAM) assay. In addition, behavioral choice assays were conducted to evaluate attraction toward female mosquitoes. Irradiated males that consumed ethanol exhibited increased locomotor activity 48 hours post-irradiation compared to irradiated controls, suggesting improved physiological fitness. No significant differences were observed in female attraction among treatment groups. These findings support the hypothesis that low-dose ethanol exposure may mitigate fitness costs associated with irradiation and enhance the effectiveness of SIT programs. Further research examining mating success, courtship behavior, and long-term survival is recommended to determine the practical implications of ethanol supplementation for mosquito population control.
Academic Department
Biology
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Robey, Kayden; Borg, Gabriel; and Hansen, Immo
(2026)
"Hormetic Ethanol Effects on Fitness and Attraction in Irradiated Aedes Aegypti,"
The Agora: Vol. 4, Article 4.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.nmsu.edu/the-agora/vol4/iss1/4