.png)
Mosquito Suppression
When mosquitoes arrived in Hawaiʻi, native birds rapidly disappeared from the warm lowlands, succumbing quickly to avian malaria and pox. To help native birds survive, conservation organizations focused on habitat preservation and restoration in high-elevation forest preserves, which were too cold for mosquitoes. But as temperatures have warmed, mosquitoes have begun moving upslope, requiring mosquito control methods such as reducing breeding areas and spot-applying larvicides.
Unfortunately, these measures alone cannot address the mosquito issue at a landscape scale across thousands of acres. An integrated management approach is necessary, including forest management tools such as fencing, invasive species removal, and native plant restoration, as well as more effective mosquito suppression tools.
Through extensive research into different methods utilized for human health, BNM has recognized the Incompatible Insect Technique as the most effective conservation tool to suppress mosquito populations and safeguard the Hawaiian honeycreepers from extinction. The Incompatible Insect Technique will augment and bolster the effectiveness of integrated management, expanding upon other mosquito control methods and giving these endangered birds a renewed opportunity to thrive and flourish in the years to come.
%20DSC_3350%20Jim%20Denny.jpg)
