# A 3D-printed adult release system compatible with a drone for aerial deployment of Aedes aegypti and Glossina palpalis gambiensis

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a 3D-printed device for releasing sterile insects via drones, which could improve vector control for mosquitoes and tsetse flies.

## Contribution

A novel 3D-printed insect cassette compatible with drones for aerial release of Aedes aegypti and Glossina palpalis gambiensis is developed and tested.

## Key findings

- The cassette can hold up to 45,000 Aedes aegypti or 11,000 Glossina palpalis gambiensis with high release efficiency.
- Over 70% of released insects survived for 26 days, and more than 80% retained flight ability.
- The system shows promise for aerial insect release programs but requires field testing for validation.

## Abstract

The sterile insect technique (SIT) is a well-established, environmentally friendly method of insect population suppression that relies on the release of sterile males to reduce reproduction in wild populations. SIT has been successfully applied against several insect pests, including the tsetse fly (hereafter tsetse) in Africa and Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in Asia and the Americas, and is increasingly considered to be a complementary tool for vector control. For an SIT programme to succeed, the release process must ensure good coverage of the targeted area without compromising the performance of the released insects. The use of release systems paired with drones may play an important role. While interest in aerial releases is growing, the number of available aerial release systems remains limited.

The Birdview insect cassette, a lightweight, three-dimensional (3D)-printed device compatible with drones, was described and assessed for its suitability to release adult Aedes mosquitoes and tsetse under laboratory conditions. We determined the carrying capacity of the release system and the flight propensity, survival of and potential physical damage to Ae. aegypti and the tsetse Glossina palpalis gambiense, under laboratory conditions, using between 8000 and 30,000 insects.

Overall, our findings highlight the potential of the insect cassette system, which can support loading densities up to 45,000 Ae. aegypti or 11,000 G. p. gambiensis, with release efficiencies ranging from 60% to 96% and a survival rate of > 70% after a 26-day monitoring period. Of the released insects, > 80% escaped from flight ability devices.

The Birdview insect cassette is valuable for aerial release programmes targeting Aedes mosquitoes and tsetse. Future research should focus on refining the system's design and functionality, as well as evaluating its performance in field settings to validate its effectiveness in vector control.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13071-025-07146-7.