Last Updated: 16/08/2017

Acoustic Tracking of Mosquito Swarms for Vector Control

Objectives

The overall goal of this project is to develop an acoustic software to locate mosquito swarms by their sound, thereby allowing elimination of thousands of breeding vector mosquitos that can cause diseases such as malaria. It has already been demonstrated that a single distant mosquito in a noisy laboratory setting can be acoustically detected.

Principal Institution

Columbia University, United States

Principal Investigators / Focal Persons

Szabolcs Marka

Rationale and Abstract

The team will further develop acoustic locator hardware and sensors targeting the common malaria mosquito Anopheles and field-test its performance in locating swarms from several tens of meters. By studying the acoustics of single mosquitoes as well as of swarms, it could be possible to track the behaviour of individuals and to artificially induce swarm formation, to further support disease control efforts by creating acoustic signals in traps to attract mosquitoes.

Date

Nov 2015 — May 2017

Total Project Funding

$100,000

Funding Details
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), United States

Grand Challenges Explorations, New Approaches for Addressing Outdoor/Residual Malaria Transmission (Round 15)
Project Site

United States

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