Two scientists from the Entomology Unit of the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Antwerp (Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp – ITM) participated, from July 6–17, in a specialized training programme designed and implemented by Ecodevelopment.
The two-week program combined field training with modern methods of entomological data management and participation in laboratory procedures. The trainees actively participated in the daily work of Ecodevelopment’s scientists and technicians, both in the laboratory and in the field, under real-world conditions for the implementation of a wide-area mosquito control program, specifically in the Region of Central Macedonia.
The field training activities took place in four distinct ecosystems: wetlands, the peri-urban system, the built (urban) environment, and rice fields. They included the identification of breeding sites, the sampling of mosquito larvae and adults, and familiarization with larviciding methods.
Particular emphasis was placed on using the eBite digital platform developed by Ecodevelopment to record field data, collecting and processing samples from CO2 traps and IoT devices, and classifying mosquitoes at the species level. At the same time, the basic laboratory and diagnostic procedures for monitoring West Nile virus were presented (molecular detection via PCR and serological testing of blood samples collected from young domestic chickens using ELISA).
This initiative, which was implemented within the framework of a five-year Memorandum of Cooperation signed in 2025 between ITM Antwerp and Ecodevelopment, highlights the importance of the international exchange of know-how in the field of entomological surveillance and integrated pest management. At a time when the company’s projects are in full operational development and despite the particularly demanding conditions in the field, we have managed to demonstrate not only our high operational and scientific standards and our expertise, but also the spirit of collaboration, hospitality, and the culture of knowledge sharing and transfer that characterize Ecodevelopment.
