bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.06.284968; this version posted September 7, 2020. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder. All rights reserved. No reuse allowed without permission. Pilot Suppression trial of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes through an Integrated Vector Management strategy including the Sterile Insect Technique in Mauritius Diana P. Iyaloo1,2*, Jeremy Bouyer3, Sunita Facknath1, Ambicadutt Bheecarry2 1Faculty of Agriculture, University of Mauritius, Réduit, 230, Mauritius 2Vector Biology and Control Division, Ministry of Health and Quality of Life, Route Jardin, Curepipe, 230, Mauritius 3Insect Pest Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Programme of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, A-1400, Vienna, Austria. *Correspondence to: Name: Diana P. Iyaloo e-mail:
[email protected] Abstract It is often difficult to control the vector mosquito Aedes albopictus using conventional chemical control methods alone at an operational level mainly because of (1) the ability of the species to lay eggs in a variety of places which are often difficult to detect or access by larviciding operators, (2) the inherent tendency of adults to live and feed outdoor which makes them unlikely targets of Insecticide Residual Spraying and (3) the development of resistance to insecticides by the species. It is therefore necessary for countries to investigate alternative control methods (such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)) that can be integrated in their national vector control programme in order to address those limitations. 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.09.06.284968; this version posted September 7, 2020.