Dedicated to the study, exploration, and appreciation of natural history in the Santa Ynez Valley region.

Stopping the Buzzz: Novel approaches to pest control

Wednesday, February 26

Mosquito approaching a sphere of repellent. Photo by Craig Montell.

Free live lecture and Zoom webinar with Dr. Craig Montell

The itch from a mosquito bite is the least of the problems those insects can cause. Not all mosquito species spread diseases; however, a particular mosquito (Aedes aegypti) can carry the viruses that cause dengue fever, yellow fever, Zika, and additional diseases that have devastated other parts of the world.  Aedes aegypti has arrived and is spreading in California with considerable potential impact on public health.

Mating mosquitos. Photo by Craig Montell.

High tech, cutting-edge research in the lab of UCSB professor Dr. Craig Montell is revealing the mosquito’s world, including how these insects find each other and their human hosts. His surprising results suggest novel approaches to stymieing the spread of these insects and the diseases they can transmit. How do you unravel the sensory world of a small insect and use it as a means of pest control? Dr. Montell’s presentation opens a bright window on that tiny and critical world.

Dr. Craig Montell. Courtesy photo.

Dr. Montell received his B.A. from UC Berkeley in 1978, his Ph.D. from UCLA in 1983, and was on the faculty of Johns Hopkins School of Medicine for almost 25 years before coming to UCSB as a Duggan Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. He has received numerous awards for his ground-breaking work on the nervous systems of mammals, fruit flies, and mosquitoes, and most recently has begun developing strategies for the biological control of Aedes aegypti.

This event occured on Wednesday February 26, 2025

Live lecture location was at: Stacey Hall, St. Mark’s in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Ave, Los Olivos

The Zoom recording is now available! Please click here to view the webinar. We hope that you enjoy it. Also, there was some flashing at the beginning but it was resolved by using a different camera. We are sorry for this technical issue.

 

 

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