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About Mozzie Monitors

Mozzie Monitors is a citizen science mosquito surveillance program. It aims to increase scientific knowledge about mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases amongst the public, and generate information which can be used to improve public health.

The program began in Australia in 2018, at the University of South Australia. In 2020 we plan to form a Mozzie Monitors association, which members of the public are free to join. Currently, Mozzie Monitors runs in two different ways:

  • 1. Trap-based: Citizen scientists use a mozzie trap (BG-GAT) to monitor mosquitoes in their backyards and report these data. This trial is run for a specific time and in a specific area each time. It is advertised in advance to recruit new members.
  • 2. App-based: Citizen scientists from anywhere in Australia can share their observations of mosquitoes at any moment, using the iNaturalist app. New members can join at any time throughout the year and start collaborating and sharing their observations.



What is citizen science?

Citizen science is the public participation into scientific research. Through this partnership, members of the community and researchers can work together to answer a common question or solve a complex problem. It is a transdisciplinary field which facilitates scientific discoveries and meaningful changes.




Why citizen science mosquito surveillance?

Millions of people are exposed to mosquito-borne diseases daily, especially dengue and malaria. In Australia, Ross River fever is common, and nuisance biting by mosquitoes has a big impact on people. There is evidence that several diseases are going to emerge and re-emerge in new areas in the future, due to increasing globalisation, human mobility and climate change. As there is no vaccine for the most of these diseases, the most effective way to prevent them still relies on controlling mosquito populations. To do that, it’s crucial to understand the mosquito fauna in each local community and how these populations fluctuate throughout the year.

Monitoring urban mosquitoes is essential to establishing early warning systems to predict disease risks and mitigate them.



Why become a Mozzie Monitor?

In becoming a Mozzie Monitor, you can contribute to a program of global importance, monitoring the mosquito-fauna in your backyard and helping keep your whole community free from mosquito-borne diseases. You can also learn about the ecology of these species that surround your house every day.


You will also be part of a vibrant community of citizen scientists who are making a revolution in the way mosquito surveillance is done in Australia. To become a member, you only need to complete the Become a Member form.


Some advantages of being a Mozzie Monitor:

  • Helping mosquito surveillance sharing real-time information;
  • Helping build a map of mosquito distribution across Australia, through the iNaturalist app;
  • Opportunity to work with Mozzie Monitors team to create and run events and initiatives;
  • Participating in discussions with other members about mosquito surveillance in Australia and regional chapters;
  • Opportunity to contribute to the Mozzie Monitors website, posts, blogs and newsletter;
  • Being recognised as Mozzie Monitor in scientific publications;
  • Eligibility to be nominated for and elected to the Management Committee and regional chapters;
  • Discount in Mozzie Monitors Merchandise;
  • Free annual Mozzie Monitors calendar.


Originators and Committee

The Mozzie Monitors concept and original project design was created by A/Prof Craig Williams, at the University of South Australia in September 2017. Significant contributors to Mozzie Monitors creation and design also included:


  • Stephen Fricker, technical officer UniSA: technical design, mosquito identification, testing, iNaturalist work, public advocacy
  • Larissa Braz Sousa, PhD student at UniSA: analysis, design, trial execution, promotion public advocacy
  • Seamus Doherty, former Honours student, UniSA: technical design and testing
  • Mathieu Bazin, former summer scholarship student at UniSA: initial trap testing
  • A/Prof Katherine Baldock, UniSA: student supervision, public health strategy
  • A/Prof Cameron Webb, University of Sydney: project and concept design

The intellectual contribution and support of Brian Montgomery, Queensland Health, Metro South Brisbane, is gratefully acknowledged. The financial support of Western Australia Health, and the input of Peter Neville was vital.



Vision

Establish and facilitate participatory research in mosquito surveillance.

Mission

Increase the knowledge of mosquito community composition and mosquito-borne disease risks in local areas through citizen science engagement.

Goals

The Mozzie Monitors program has the broad goals:
  • Facilitate citizen science mosquito surveillance initiative as a reliable tool to monitor mosquitoes in urban areas;
  • Raise the awareness of mosquito-borne diseases across Australia;
  • Promote mosquito monitoring among the broad community;
  • Develop a sustainable and scalable program to be launched in other countries and territories.

    • Partners and Sponsors


    University of South Australia

    Western Australia Department of Health

    Roebuck Bay Working Group Inc., Broome WA

    South Australia Department for Environment and Water


    Image Credits

    Image for Mission and at top: Toxorhynchites speciosus. (c) Steve Kerr, some rights reserved (CC BY).
    Image for "Why Become a Mozzie Monitor?": Aedes notoscriptus. (c) Robert Briggs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA).
    Image for Vision: Aedes notoscriptus. (c) Mike Lusk, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC).
    Image for Goals: Anopheles annulipes. (c) Reiner Richter, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)