Thousands of Mosquitoes Released from Drones in Hawaii to Save Birds

Tens of thousands of male mosquitoes, lab-grown and carrying the Wolbachia bacteria, are being released from drones over the Hawaiian Islands. The goal is to limit the population of invasive mosquitoes that threaten Hawaii's native birds, such as the rare honeycreepers.

Mosquitoes are not native to Hawaii and appeared in 1826. Bird populations have no natural defenses against mosquito-borne diseases, such as avian malaria. Climate change is exacerbating the problem as mosquitoes move to higher altitudes, threatening birds that have taken refuge in the mountains.

The Incompatible Insect Technique (IIT) is used to release male mosquitoes. When these mate with wild females, the eggs do not hatch. The ABC and the Birds, Not Mosquitoes alliance began implementing IIT on Hawaiian mosquitoes in 2016. Today, 500,000 mosquitoes are released per week in Maui and another 500,000 in Kauai.

A study by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and the Smithsonian’s National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute found that there is still time to save the honeycreepers if mosquito control efforts with IIT are successful.