170 - From Convention to Innovation: How Can we Bridge the Gap Between Conventional Surveillance Methods and Innovative Control Strategies?

Abstract: The last few decades have seen a significant amount of innovative control strategies including mass trapping, SIT techniques, GMO, drones for larvicide dispersal and even citizen science programs to name a few. While the control strategies are rapidly evolving, the mosquito surveillance scene has remained relatively unchanged for the last half of a century. Since the development of the New Jersey Light trap in the 40s and the CDC light trap in the 60s very few innovative technologies have been accepted or implemented by the mosquito surveillance programs.
Mosquito surveillance is and always has been closely related to successful mosquito management and the control of vector borne diseases. In principle, proper surveillance should guide us when and where mosquito control measures are applied and inform us whether the measures were successful or not. So why is the surveillance scene not rapidly evolving as well?
Different techniques have indeed been developed and are used for various application cases and these conventional surveillance methods used today will be highlighted in this introductory talk. Putting the future in mosquito surveillance though involves embracing cutting-edge technologies, interdisciplinary approaches, and innovative strategies.