Why Mosquitoes Are Being Dropped Using Drones In Hawaii? Scientists Explain
The beautiful tropical island is facing an extinction crisis. Colourful songbirds known as honeycreepers that were once abundant in Hawaii are struggling to survive because of avian malaria, transmitted by invasive mosquitoes.
To help these birds rebound, scientists have now come up with a plan. The drones are being used to drop lab-reared, non-biting male mosquitoes that have been engineered to carry a bacteria strain that interferes with reproduction.
By continuously releasing these special males into honeycreeper habitats where malaria is spreading, scientists are hoping to erode the population of biting mosquitoes and thus suppress the spread of disease.
The project is being spearheaded by "Birds, Not Mosquitoes", a coalition of nonprofit organisations working to protect native Hawaiian birds. Since the mosquito project started in November 2023, they have released over 40 million males in honeycreeper habitats in Maui and Kauai.
"What this does is it erects an invisible barrier so that these mosquitoes can't get up to the forests where these birds remain," Chris Farmer, Hawaii program director at American Bird Conservancy, a conservation group that's leading the drone effort, told Vox.
'Without significantly reducing invasive mosquito populations, multiple native bird species will disappear forever in the near future. At least 33 species of honeycreeper are now extinct, and many of the 17 that remain, including the Kiwikiu and ʻĀkohekohe on Maui, and ʻAkekeʻe on Kauaʻi, are highly endangered," he added.
Though it is unclear at this stage if unleashing the reproductively challenged mosquitoes was yielding any result, scientists remain hopeful that they might be able to save the honeycreepers population.
Notably, mosquitoes are not native to Hawaii. But after a whaling ship accidentally brought them to the islands in 1826, they proliferated and thrived in the warm, humid climate.
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Why are scientists dropping mosquitoes from drones in Hawaii?
Source: Vox Hawaii is home to a unique and diverse array of native bird species, many of which are found nowhere else in the world. However, these birds are facing a significant threat from an invasive species: mosquitoes. According to Vox Media, a drone flying over Hawaii's remote forests is releasing containers filled with live mosquitoes. This approach is aimed at addressing the islands' severe extinction crisis. Hawaii has lost hundreds of unique species due to invasive species like feral pigs and stray cats. With many native animals on the brink of extinction, scientists are working urgently to preserve what's left. Extinction crisis of Hawaii's native birds Hawaii's forest birds, particularly the iconic honeycreepers, are facing a threat from avian malaria, a disease transmitted by non-native mosquitoes. Climate change is exacerbating the issue, allowing mosquitoes to move into higher elevations, further threatening the remaining bird populations. Once thriving with over 50 species, today only 17 honeycreeper species remain, with many driven to extinction. Scientists are working to save these species because malaria is the primary cause of extinction. Researchers are looking into a novel way to help fight the disease: releasing mosquitoes via drones. A promising step in preserving Hawaii's priceless wildlife is this drone-based solution. The problem: Mosquito-borne diseases Early in the 20th century, mosquitoes were brought to the islands. They weren't indigenous to Hawaii. Since then, they have spread rapidly and are now a significant issue for the local birds. Many native bird species are killed by diseases like avian malaria and avian poxvirus, which are spread by mosquitoes. The impact on native birds of Hawaii The impact of mosquitoes on Hawaii's native bird population has been devastating. Numerous species are in grave danger of going extinct, including the Palila and the Akikiki. Since these species are unique to Hawaii, their extinction would be devastating not only for Hawaii's ecosystem but also for the entire world. Conservation efforts Through a range of strategies, such as habitat restoration, captive breeding initiatives, and mosquito control, conservationists are attempting to preserve Hawaii's native bird population. Also read | Rare blood-red squid captured alive for the first time off Antarctica on camera
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Why Mosquitoes Are Being Dropped Using Drones In Hawaii? Scientists Explain
Scientists are dropping swarms of mosquitoes using a giant drone in the remote forests of Hawaii. Though the experiment may seem straight out of a horror sci-fi movie, the scientists are dropping these hated insects to resurrect life in Hawaii. The beautiful tropical island is facing an extinction crisis. Colourful songbirds known as honeycreepers that were once abundant in Hawaii are struggling to survive because of avian malaria, transmitted by invasive mosquitoes. To help these birds rebound, scientists have now come up with a plan. The drones are being used to drop lab-reared, non-biting male mosquitoes that have been engineered to carry a bacteria strain that interferes with reproduction. By continuously releasing these special males into honeycreeper habitats where malaria is spreading, scientists are hoping to erode the population of biting mosquitoes and thus suppress the spread of disease. The project is being spearheaded by "Birds, Not Mosquitoes", a coalition of nonprofit organisations working to protect native Hawaiian birds. Since the mosquito project started in November 2023, they have released over 40 million males in honeycreeper habitats in Maui and Kauai. "What this does is it erects an invisible barrier so that these mosquitoes can't get up to the forests where these birds remain," Chris Farmer, Hawaii program director at American Bird Conservancy, a conservation group that's leading the drone effort, told Vox. 'Without significantly reducing invasive mosquito populations, multiple native bird species will disappear forever in the near future. At least 33 species of honeycreeper are now extinct, and many of the 17 that remain, including the Kiwikiu and ʻĀkohekohe on Maui, and ʻAkekeʻe on Kauaʻi, are highly endangered," he added. Though it is unclear at this stage if unleashing the reproductively challenged mosquitoes was yielding any result, scientists remain hopeful that they might be able to save the honeycreepers population. Notably, mosquitoes are not native to Hawaii. But after a whaling ship accidentally brought them to the islands in 1826, they proliferated and thrived in the warm, humid climate.
