This project uses the Wolbachia-incompatible male mosquito through the Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) to suppress mosquito populations. Wolbachia is a common, naturally occurring bacteria present in nearly half of the world's insect species, including native Hawaiian insects.

 

A Wolbachia-incompatible male mosquito has a different strain of Wolbachia than the wild females. When a male and female mosquito of the same species with different strains of Wolbachia mate, the females cannot successfully reproduce. This results in inviable eggs–meaning the eggs don’t hatch.

 

Read more about the Incompatible Insect Technique and Wolbachia.