PORTS: Precision Optimization for Resilient Targeted Surveillance
We need your help! Become a Citizen Scientist today!
Help stop the world’s most dangerous organism from invading our borders!
Uniting Science and Society Against Invasive Mosquitoes
Our Challenge
Invasive mosquito species capable of carrying serious diseases are well suited to Brisbane’s climate and environment. These mosquitoes are regularly intercepted at Brisbane’s seaports, highlighting the ongoing risk of introduction into Australia.
While these species, specifically Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, have not yet established themselves within our borders, Australia currently has no system to monitor mosquito movement across biosecurity zones. This creates a critical blind spot in our ability to detect incursions early, prevent the spread of disease, and respond rapidly to emerging biosecurity threats.
Our Solution
With the help from community members, as Citizen Scientists, we will be able to identify genomic connections between mosquito populations. This will inform us if mosquitoes are escaping from the Brisbane Seaport environments into local suburbs.
This will enable us to develop and evaluate a novel mosquito surveillance and intervention framework that identifies “high traffic” zones of mosquito movement to direct and tailor surveillance or eradication efforts. Ultimately, preventing invasive mosquitoes from crossing our borders.
How will we do this?
We will extract DNA from mosquitoes collected in the PORTS area and apply population genomics methods to quantify genomic connections between populations and identify potential invasion routes.
We will use bioinformatics to develop models that integrate genomic data, optimization routines, and citizen science participation to identify high-risk zones.
Later in the project we will ask Citizen Scientists, located in 'high-risk' zones, to trial targeted containment approaches (mosquito traps baited with pyriproxyfen - an insect growth regulator).
How Can You Help?
Sign up today to receive your 'Mosquito Collection Kit' in the mail, set a mosquito trap under cover near your home, collect mosquito eggs and send them back to us for genomic analysis.
As our project progresses, we will ask citizen scientists to
Suburbs Targeted by the PORTS Project
Do you live within 15km of the Port Of Brisbane?
Suburbs Targeted for the PORTS Project
What if I Don't Live in the PORTS area?
Zika Mozzie Seeker (ZMS)
If you live in the Metro South Area sign up to be a Zika Mozzie Seeker today!
If you are a ZMS registrant you will be asked if your mosquito eggs can be used for genomics projects at QIMR Berghofer
ZMS registrants in the PORTS area will also be invited to sign up to the PORTS project and notified about opportunities for involvement in workshops and events
Mozzie SHIELDS
If you live in the Greater Brisbane region sign up to Mozzie SHIELDS today!
Current surveillance network can cover only a fraction of our suburbs, leaving large gaps in our ability to detect invasive mosquitoes and viruses before they spread.
Mozzie SHIELDS — Strengthening Health through Integrated Engagement and Learning in Disease Surveillance - is a partnership between You, QIMR Berghofer, Metro South Health, BSSSC and QUT. It aims to close that gap with two community-powered tools: the Zika Mozzie Seeker egg trap network to track invasive mosquitoes and the new Mozzie Virus Trap network to trace viruses circulating in local mosquito populations.
Your community. Your shield!
Understanding Brisbane's Mosquito Disease Risks
Mosquitoes can spread disease, but not all mosquito species transmit the same illnesses. Brisbane’s native mosquitoes can carry diseases such as Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus and Japanese encephalitis (JEV). However, these diseases do not spread directly from person to person.
Brisbane is at risk from invasive mosquito species; Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. Unlike native mosquitoes, these species can spread diseases such as Dengue, Zika, and Chikungunya with transmission from person to person, increasing the potential for outbreaks - If someone becomes infected with dengue while travelling and returns home, these mosquitoes can transmit the virus to other people in the community, increasing the risk of local outbreaks.
Aedes notoscriptus - Australian Backyard Mosquito
- Widespread urban mosquito
- Lays eggs in artificial containers - NOT swamps or creeks!
- Primarily feeds during day in shaded areas - where people gather
- Disease Risks: Ross River virus, Barmah Forest virus, and dog heartworm
Culex quinquefasciatus - Southern House Mosquito
Aedes aegypti - Yellow Fever Mosquito
- In tropical, subtropical and some temperate regions worldwide
- Not Native: Found in North and Central QLD, with recurrent detections in some regions in Southern QLD
- Currently not found in Brisbane - Where this mosquito is found, health authorities invest heavily in control programs. If it is detected, response teams may need to inspect homes and remove breeding sites to prevent disease spread.
- Adapted to urban environments - can establish populations in residential, commercial and industrial areas.
- Lays eggs in artificial containers - NOT swamps or creeks!
- Bites during day in shaded locations or indoors
- Disease Risks: Dengue, Zika Virus, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever
Aedes albopictus - Asian Tiger Mosquito
- In tropical, subtropical and some temperate regions worldwide
- Not Native: Established only on several Torres Strait islands
- Currently not found in mainland Australia - Continued surveillance efforts, particularly in North QLD, prevent establishment of the species on the mainland
- Adapted to urban environments - highly invasive
- Lays eggs in artificial containers - NOT swamps or creeks!
- Aggressive daytime biters - opportunistically bites humans and a wide variety of animals
- Disease Risks: Dengue, Zika Virus, Chikungunya, Yellow Fever, Dirofilariasis
Mosquito eggs collected in your mosquito trap will (most likely) be from a common local species (Aedes notoscriptus)
DNA from the mosquito eggs will be extracted and analysed using genomic and bioinformatic techniques to help us understand how mosquito populations are connected across Brisbane.
By identifying areas where mosquitoes move and mix more frequently, we can pinpoint potential "high traffic" zones and find if populations within the Port of Brisbane are connected.
Local mosquitoes act as sentinels, providing valuable information about how invasive, disease-carrying mosquitoes may spread if they arrive in Brisbane.
This information helps us predict likely invasion pathways, target surveillance efforts, and work with the community to prevent the establishment of invasive mosquito species.
Your Mosquito Ovitrap
You will build your mosquito ovitrap using the materials provided in your Mosquito Collection Kit and a black plastic bucket (approximately 10 L)
- Fill the bucket with water
- Add the lucerne pellets provided in the kit
- Place the mosquito ovistrip over the side of the bucket so that part of the strip is submerged in the water
- Place the bucket outdoors in a sheltered location near your home
Check the ovistrip each week for mosquito eggs and leave the trap in place for up to 3 weeks.
When eggs are present, or after 3 weeks, remove the ovistrip (let dry) and return it using the prepaid envelope provided.
The Quinx Trap - A Trap to Catch Culex Quinquefasciatus
- With the help from citizen scientists, we will develop a new mosquito trap designed to catch Culex quinquefasciatus, another common local mosquito species.
As the project progresses, you will have the opportunity to participate in engaging workshops
- Later in the project, participants will be invited to trial the Quinx Trap and deploy their own!