Windsor-Essex residents are being asked to catch mosquitoes and freeze them to help researchers track an invasive species in the region. The University of Windsor’s Tiger Mosquito Citizen Science project is entering its third year, with researchers hoping to learn more about the prevalence and distribution of the Asian tiger mosquito, also known as Aedes albopictus. The mosquito has been documented in Windsor-Essex since 2016 and is considered an invasive species of public health interest, according to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. “We want to know how common they are in our area,” said Michelle Bondy, an experiential learning specialist at the University of Windsor’s School of the Environment. “If their population is increasing and they’re trying to track where it might be found in our area.” The project is being led by Victoria Ng of the Public Health Agency of Canada in partnership with the health unit and the university’s Let’s Talk Science outreach program. Residents can participate by collecting mosquitoes they encounter outdoors and placing them in plastic collection tubes before storing the samples in a freezer. Bondy said researchers can identify mosquitoes using an AI-powered identification system, genetic analysis and microscopy. The Asian tiger mosquito is a known vector for diseases including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile virus, said Amandeep Hans, a health promotion specialist with the health unit. However, Hans said mosquitoes collected locally have not tested positive for any of those diseases. The health unit has been monitoring for the invasive mosquito since it was first documented in the region. Unlike many mosquito species that are most active around dawn and dusk, the Asian tiger mosquito is a daytime biter, Hans said. Residents are encouraged to take precautions when outdoors, including using insect repellent containing DEET, wearing long sleeves and pants, and removing standing water from their properties at least once a week. Hans said the mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of water, including water collected in bottle caps. Bondy said the research effort is valuable even if tiger mosquitoes aren’t found in a particular sample. “Even if we don’t find tiger mosquitoes in our sampling effort this year, that’s a good thing, because we don’t really want tiger mosquitoes in our area,” she said. Residents interested in participating can go online to find information about the project and how to get involved. The project is expected to continue through September.
