Skip to main content

Invasive Aedes aegypti Mosquitoes Have Been Detected Again in the County

For more information on this invasive mosquito visit our Aedes aegypti informational page. For scheduled treatments regarding this mosquito, visit Wide Area Larvicide Spraying page.

 

Trapping Mosquitoes

We collect mosquitoes to monitor their population and test for diseases they can carry. We catch them using different mosquito traps. Each trap is designed to attract specific types of mosquitoes. Some traps we use attract female mosquitoes looking to lay their eggs. Other traps target invasive mosquito species like Aedes aegypti who are attracted to the smell of humans. After we collect the traps, we carefully separate the mosquitoes by species and sex. Then some of the mosquitoes are tested to see if they carry diseases like West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis, or Western equine encephalitis. This helps us understand where there is more mosquito activity and what areas need our attention.

Types of Mosquito Traps

Picture of a BG Sentinel Mosquito Trap
1. BG Sentinel (Biogents Sentinel)
  • Bait: Uses a human scent lure that is made from less than 1% lactic acid
  • General use: Invasive Aedes mosquito surveillance and for routine trapping
  • Target mosquito species: Invasive Aedes aegypti and other host seeking mosquitoes
  • How long trap is left outside: An average of 24 hours

 

Picture of a gravid trap used to trap pregnant (gravid) mosquitoes
2. Gravid Traps:
  • Bait: A smelly mixture of water and hay
  • General use: Used for routine trapping and supplemental trapping if needed.
  • Target mosquito species: Attracts pregnant female mosquitoes looking for standing water to lay their eggs.
  • How long the trap is left outside: An average of 24 hours

 

Picture of an EVS Trap
3. EVS (Encephalitis Vector Surveillance Trap):
  • Bait: Dry Ice
  • General use: Used for supplemental trapping
  • Target mosquito species: Mosquitoes looking for someone to bite (also known as host-seeking mosquitoes).
  • How long trap is left outside: An average of 24 hours

 

Picture of an ovibucket trap for Aedes aegypti mosquitoes
4. Ovibucket (Oviposition Bucket):
  • Bait: Clean standing water
  • General use: Invasive Aedes mosquito egg surveillance
  • Target mosquito species: Invasive Aedes mosquitoes
  • How long trap is left outside: An average of one week

 

To learn how we test mosquitoes, visit our Mosquitoes Disease Monitoring section.