Question 1

What is the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)?

Accepted Answer

SIT is a biological pest control method that involves releasing large numbers of sterile male insects into the wild. These sterile males mate with wild females, producing no offspring, leading to a decline in the target insect population given the female insect, as happens with mosquitoes, typically mate only once in its lifetime..

Question 2

Is SIT safe for humans, pets, and the environment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, SIT is considered safe for humans, pets, and the environment. Unlike chemical insecticides, SIT targets only the specific insect population without harming beneficial insects or contaminating the ecosystem.

Question 3

Does adding mosquitos to the environment not increase risk of disease?

Accepted Answer

No, adding sterile male mosquitoes to the environment does not increase the risk of disease. In fact, it's quite the opposite. The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is a proven method for reducing mosquito populations, which in turn lowers the risk of transmission for mosquito-borne diseases.
Here's how it works:
Sterile Males: The sterile male mosquitoes released through SIT are incapable of reproducing.
Outcompeting Wild Males: These sterile males mate with wild female mosquitoes, preventing them from producing offspring.
Population Reduction: Over time, this leads to a significant reduction in the overall mosquito population.
With fewer mosquitoes, the chances of disease transmission decrease dramatically. Therefore, SIT is a safe and effective strategy for combating mosquito-borne illnesses.

Question 4

Is it really effective ? Did you release sterile mosquitoes and it works ?

Accepted Answer

Yes! By now Senecio released sterile male mosquitoes at hundreds of locations with great success. We have had paying municipalities as well as paying residents, receiving great feedback on reduction in mosquito biting-pressure.
Visit our Testimonial page to hear what they say about Senecio's service.

Question 5

Did you manage to reduce mosquito populations at municipalities?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We have been working with multiple municipalities to date, and all have provided positive feedback on a reduction in mosquito complaints. This is a key metric that municipalities use to gauge the effectiveness of their pest control efforts citywide. 
To learn more about the specific outcomes we've achieved, please see below our testimonials from municipal partners:

Question 6

How does the public typically react to the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT)?

Accepted Answer

The public generally embraces SIT as a safe, effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional mosquito control methods. 
Many people appreciate the positive impact that SIT has on public health and the environment. 
Children in our kindergarten clients often say that the sterile mosquitoes are "good mosquitoes" or "our friends", highlighting the positive perception and educational opportunities that SIT programs can provide.

Question 7

How much time does it take to treat a house?

Accepted Answer

It takes less than 5 minutes to treat a single house, allowing a single technician to address up to about 100 drop sites per day.

Question 8

Should the client be home while releasing the mosquitoes?

Accepted Answer

No. Most of our clients were actually not at home during the releases, as long as there is some access to the desired protected area. Such access can even be above an existing fence from the outside of the house.