Employing tiny harmonic radar tags to study mosquito movement in natural environments

Authors: Siderhurst, Matthew; Hurst, Anika; Liang, Peishih; Manoukis, Nicholas; PETERSON, JENNIFER - University Of Delaware

Submitted to: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences-Nexus
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2026
Publication Date: 2/20/2026
Citation: Siderhurst, M.S., Hurst, A.L., Liang, P., Manoukis, N., Peterson, J.K. 2026. Employing tiny harmonic radar tags to study mosquito movement in natural environments. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences-Nexus. 5(3). Article pgag039. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag039.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgag039

Interpretive Summary: Mosquitoes are responsible for transmitting the pathogens that kill millions of humans through illnesses such as yellow fever, malaria, and dengue. Beyond human health, mosquitoes also negatively impact livestock and poultry by acting as vectors for the disease agents of West Nile virus, equine encephalitis, fowl pox, among others. Mosquito-borne disease control relies on understanding mosquito movement behaviors such as peak activity times, biting frequency, and oviposition location. Current knowledge of mosquito movement is largely based on mark-release-recapture and controlled lab experiments that provide snapshots of movement patterns with limited spatiotemporal context. HR tracking of mosquitoes allows for data collection at an unprecedented spatiotemporal granularity that can be used to refine and validate mosquito control and surveillance measures. Movement parameters from tracking can also support the development of mathematical models of mosquito-borne disease transmission and models used to evaluate large-scale mosquito release methods using transgenic or Wolbachia-infected mosquitoes.

Technical Abstract: A detailed understanding of mosquito movement dynamics is critical to mosquito-borne disease prevention. While laboratory and trap-based studies have made great strides in providing snapshots of mosquito movement, a real-time comprehensive picture of quotidian mosquito movement is still lacking. However, the development of miniature harmonic radar (HR) tags, suitable for small insect tracking, has made the collection of moment-to-moment mosquito movement data possible. In this study, we assessed the suitability of using HR tags (weighing 50-135 µg) for tracking individual Aedes albopictus in both caged flight tests and natural environments. Flight tests in a large outdoor screen cage demonstrated that mosquitoes were attracted to a darker colored wall and that individuals had variable landing heights, which aligned with published descriptions of Ae. albopictus behavior. Field experiments demonstrated the feasibility of following tagged mosquito movements in a coffee field and in shaded parkland. Movement parameters from both field experiments (step-distances, turning angles, and movement rates) were used to estimate maximum daily dispersals (range 25-52 m/d), and these estimates agree with previously published estimates. While both non-blood fed and blood fed female Ae. albopictus were found to be flight capable with HR tags, several experiments showed some adverse effects of tagging, including increased mortality and decreases in flight times. Nonetheless, our findings suggest that using harmonic radar tags to track mosquitoes can yield biologically relevant results. This approach is promising for future studies investigating adult mosquito movement ecology and dispersal, thus opening up new possibilities for mosquito surveillance and control.