TRAPPING CONTAINER-BREEDING GRAVID MOSQUITOES: REITER-CUMMINGS VERSUS FROMMER UPDRAFT

TRAPPING CONTAINER-BREEDING GRAVID MOSQUITOES: REITER-CUMMINGS VERSUS FROMMER UPDRAFT

Esteban Cuebas-Incle and Anthony Corricelli

Northeast MA Mosquito Control & Wetlands Management District

261 Northern Blvd.

Newburyport, MA 01950

ABSTRACT

With the appearance of West Nile virus in the Western Hemisphere over ten years ago, surveillance for and collection of its principal vectors (Culex pipiens and Cx. restuans in the northeast USA) have become mandatory for all mosquito control districts/projects operations. It has been determined that the most efficient manner to collect and monitor these species is by utilizing traps that attract gravid and ovipositing females. Since females of these species can oviposit inside artificial water-filled containers, traps were designed to exploit their natural ovipositioning-seeking behavior. The two most utilized traps for the collection of gravid mosquitoes have been the “CDC Gravid Trap” (Hock Model 1712) and the “Reiter-Cummings Gravid Trap” (BioQuip Model 2800). Recently, John W. Hock Company began marketing a modification of the CDC gravid trap by Dr. Robert Frommer (Manatee County Mosquito Control District, FL), known as the “Frommer Updraft Gravid Trap” (Hock Model 1719). Compared to the CDC Gravid trap, it is a more compact, sturdy, and durable under most field conditions, especially during rain. We tested the effectiveness of this trap, as compared to the Reiter-Cummings trap we currently employed; three sites in Newburyport MA, known for abundance of Cx. pipiens and Cx. restuans populations, were selected and both traps were tested simultaneously in July and August 2010. Overall, we found no significant difference in numbers and species of mosquitoes collected between the two traps. However, it was easier to remove trapped mosquitoes from the Reiter-Cummings trap and no mosquitoes were ensnared on screens, as was the case with the Frommer trap. Overall, the former trap was easier to manipulate and maintain. We concluded that for our collection protocols, the Reiter-Cummings trap was superior and will continue to be utilized.