Incompatible insect technique: insights on potential outcomes of releasing contaminant females: a proof of concept under semi‐field conditions

Abstract BACKGROUND Releasing large numbers of Aedes albopictus males, carrying the artificially introduced Wolbachia ‘ w Pip’ strain, results in a decrease in the reproductive capacity of wild females due to a phenomenon known as cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI). This vector control strategy is referred to as the incompatible insect technique (IIT). However, its widespread implementation faces various challenges, including the complexity of removing fertile females from the males intended for release. Here, we present the results of semi‐field experiments comparing the impact of minimal female co‐release on two IIT modes: unidirectional CI‐based (UnCI IIT) and bidirectional CI‐based (BiCI IIT), specifically targeting Ae. albopictus . RESULTS The contamination of ‘ w Pip’ infected females (2%) during male releases significantly weakened the overall effectiveness of IIT, emphasizing the need for thorough sex separation. Specifically, with UnCI IIT, despite the low rate of co‐released females, there was a gradual rise in ‘ w Pip’ infection frequency, resulting in more compatible mating and subsequently higher rates of egg hatching. Conversely, this pattern was effectively mitigated in BiCI IIT owing to the reciprocal sterility between the wild‐type and the ‘ w Pip’ infected populations. CONCLUSION Through an experimental approach, conducted in a semi‐field setting, we have contributed to advancing scientific understanding regarding the potential outcomes of implementing the IIT strategy in the absence of a complete sexing system. The results suggest that safety measures for mitigating the potential impacts of co‐released females can be tailored according to the specific type of IIT being utilized. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.