RA&RM of Living Modified Mosquitoes

In the general guidance there was a comment on the availability of wild relatives.  This appears to be of limited relevance to LM mosquitoes;

Mosquitoes are exquisitely species specific in their mating habits, as the genitalia are designed for copulation to be successful only with their own species.  Mating is often carried out in flight( depending on species) and uses a variety of  both long range and short range stimuli such as pheromones, wing beats etc. Insects are therefore generally incapable of forming fertile hybrids with other insect species even in the laboratory, and more so in the field where additional behavioural barriers might exist.  


(Clements (1999) The biology of Mosquitoes, Volume 2 Sensory Reception and behaviour 360 -402).

Perhaps of more relevance to risk assessment would be the issue of whether the mosquito species to be released is native or a recent introduction to the receiving environment.

A review of the potential for horizontal gene transfer relating to Sterile insect technique population suppression strategies has been published in the USDA Environmental Impact Statement on the Use of Genetically Engineered Fruit FLy and Pink Bollworm in APHIS Plant Pest Control Programs. (reference details are in the suggested reading).