Monitoring Mosquitos III

BGS Mosquito Trap

One of the most versatile mosquito traps is the Biogents Sentinel Trap. The trap uses combinations of air currents, visual and olfactory cues to collect a wide range of mosquito species. Mosquitoes are attracted to odors in human and animal sweat. These chemical odors can be added to the trap and evaporated from the relatively large surface area. The trap generates air currents that disperse the odorants into the air and sucks mosquitos into the trap. This trap is collapsible which makes it easy to transport in large numbers to field sites. The trap can be used to test odors in addition to the standard attractants. There is room to incorporate carbon dioxide release or a UV light if desired.

A BGS trap works well for Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, vectors of Yellow fever, dengue, chikungunya and Zika. Advances in trap development help insect vector biologists study the spread of infectious diseases.