Fluorescent Mosquito Trap

Abstract

Mosquitoes are the deadliest animal on earth, causing more than 700 million illnesses and 1 million deaths annually as the result of their bite.¹ The end goal of any mosquito-control measure is to minimize the spread of mosquito-borne illness by reducing the chance people get bitten. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of a fluorescent mosquito trap designed to minimize mosquito-borne disease transmission by reducing bite frequency. We tested a trap utilizing fluorescent blue bands, water, and borax in an outdoor setting over a 3-day period. We used a “super trap” system with an inline fan and mesh netting to collect mosquitoes during daytime and nighttime hours. Daytime captures ranged from 34 to 39 mosquitoes, whereas nighttime captures ranged from 54 to 105. A fluorescent blue trap serves as an effective, low-cost, and continuous mosquito-control measure for both indoor and outdoor environments, particularly in high-risk areas. We call this trap the Fluorescent Mosquito Trap.