Gene technology which uses DNA mapping tools is being used to identify human malaria carrying mosquitoes in the South Pacific as part of a program designed by researchers at UTS.

Dr Nigel Beebe, from the University's Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, is using the technology to develop new surveillance methods to identify malaria carrying mosquitoes.

Research in Australia, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands has now distinguished the ten different mosquito species capable of transmitting malaria. Three of these ten species exist in northern Australia.

Dr Beebe said: "Not all of these species are able to transfer malaria to humans and the fact that they cannot be correctly identified by the human eye hinders any species identification. It is important to identify different species behaviour and biology, so we developed DNA technologies to identify and map these potential malaria carrying species."

The project allows mapping of species location for study on behaviour and biology. It is important to know feeding times, and distinguish the mosquitoes which are attracted to humans compared to those which will only seek out animal blood-meal.

"The collection method is surprisingly simple and uses material which is cheaply available from army supplies and is easily constructed, so it is ideal for use in remote areas," Dr Beebe said. "Dry ice, producing carbon dioxide to attract the mosquitoes, is put into a billy can and a small battery driven fan draws the mosquitoes into the trap. The captured mosquitoes are squashed onto an A4 piece of nylon and probed for species identity."

The DNA technology can also be applied to other disease-transmitting mosquitoes including those which carry Ross River fever, dengue fever and Japanese encephalitis.