Adult Mosquito Surveillance
General: There are many different species of mosquitoes. The District has collect 47 different species in our area, of these, approximately 12 mosquito species are important to human health, nuisance, and quality of life. All mosquitoes species have one thing in common, the female must have a blood meal before she can lay eggs. Different mosquitoes have different breeding habitat and host seeking behavior. The key to managing mosquito populations efficiently and effectively is understanding the interaction between mosquitoes and human populations. Adult Mosquito Surveillance is the means by which we gather this information, which is then used in determining operational strategies.
Light Trap: A
light trap is a device used to collect adult mosquitoes. It consist of a
fan, a
light, a carbon dioxide (C02) dispensing device, and a collection net.
Female mosquitoes looking for a blood meal are attracted to the C02 and
drawn into the net by the fan. The District has one light trap in each
member municipality in a fixed location. This fixed location light
trap is useful
in monitoring long term trends and the effectiveness of control measures, as
well as short term events which require immediate response. The District also has
portable traps which can be deployed at short notice in response to data
from fixed light traps, complaints, or vector surveillance.
Gravid Trap: A
gravid trap is a device used to collect a particular species of mosquito. It
consist of a pan of highly organic water and a collection chamber which
bridges the pan of water. Some mosquito species lay their eggs in
artificial containers, such as catch basins or water-filled buckets, and prefer highly
polluted or
organic water. Female mosquitoes landing on the surface of
this water to
deposit eggs are drawn into the collection chamber by the fan. The District
has one gravid trap in each member municipality in a fixed location. This
fixed location gravid trap is useful in monitoring long term trends, the
effectiveness of control measures, and vector surveillance. The District
also has portable traps which can be deployed at short notice in response to
data from fixed traps,
complaints, or vector surveillance.
Resting Box: The District will operate approximately 60 resting boxes. Resting boxes are designed to collect blood-fed, female Culiseta melanura mosquitoes, the principle vectors of EEE virus. Resting boxes have proven to be a valuable tool in the early detection and intervention of EEE. The District began deploying resting boxes in 2006 in response to the emergence of EEE in northeastern Massachusetts.
Resting box surveillance will focus on communities bordering New Hampshire and on communities of concern where EEE has been previously isolated.
Six to eight resting boxes will be placed at each of two fixed locations in the target communities with the exception of Salisbury, with one fixed location. The District will collect and identify samples from each resting box twice each week. Sample specimens will be tested for virus.
