Biogents – Science for Your Protection –
BG-Counter: new dimension to our understanding

"The BG-Counter allows a standardized approach to gathering relative mosquito population data as all traps can be programed to collect mosquitoes at the exact same time using the exact same methods."
(Hribar et al. 2022)

BG-Counter: high resolution data

"The BG-Counter is extremely useful for providing high resolution data" (Kartinzel & Clifton, Presentation at AMCA 2018)

BG-Counter: less field-work

"BG Counters are a time-saving measure for many inspectors as they will no longer dedicate two hours each day to driving to distant and isolated Landing Rate Counts site"
(Hribar et al., 2022)

BG-Counter: less field-work

"One month of trapping requires less than 3 hours of field-work"
(Kartinzel & Clifton, Presentation at AMCA 2018)

BG-Counter: new dimension to our understanding

"The BG-Counter was able to add a new dimension to our understanding of nightly, weekly and monthly mosquito activity."
(Kartinzel & Clifton, Presentation at AMCA 2018)

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BG-Counter 2: a remote monitoring device for mosquitoes

The BG-Counter 2 offers remote monitoring with automated mosquito counting from anywhere in the world at any time. The innovative smart device is placed on top of a Biogents mosquito trap. It differentiates mosquitoes from other insects, counts them, and wirelessly transmits the results to a cloud server. With the BG-Counter App, you can manage your traps and analyze your data.

Optimize the effectiveness of your control activities and therefore save money! Additionally, remote monitoring saves time and manpower, and is thus also more economical:

Collect data ➜ Analyze data ➜ Adapt control measures ➜ Save money

• Automatic mosquito counting
• Trap management from the office
• Comprehensive analysis

• Better treatment timing
• More effective treatment
• Better control for less money

The BG-Counter enables real-time measurements as well as historical analysis of infested areas. Vector control professionals can now establish surveillance programs with unprecedented accuracy and temporal resolution of data, overcoming labour constraints associated with manual inspection.

The BG-Counter counts the mosquitoes and sends the signal to a web server.

Automatic mosquito counting

  • The BG-Counter counts mosquitoes while they are sucked into a Biogents trap and differentiates them from other insects or dust particles.
  • Reports of mosquito counts and environmental data (temperature, humidity and ambient light) are remotely sent to the BG-Counter App, where they are available in real-time.
  • Mosquito counts with an accuracy of 90% have been established in field tests when working with CO2.
  • Up to 5 mosquitoes per second can be recorded.

Detailed insights into activity patterns

  • The BG-Counter reports mosquito counts every 15 minutes. This high density of data gives you unprecedented insights into mosquito activity patterns: You can find out exactly at which time of the day the mosquitoes are more abundant.

Optimization of control activities

The BG-Counter can be a suitable decision maker for control actions instead of human landing counts.

This brings several benefits:

  • standartized, reliable collection method
  • collections 24/7 at many locations at the same time
  • real-time availability of the data
  • cost-saving
  • ethically correct

Cost saving

  • Very little fieldwork time is required, to have a BG-Counter operating that send you data every 15 minutes, 24/7. One of our customers estimated 3h of field work per trap for a trapping period of 1 month. This save you a lot of manpower!
  • Optimizing your control activities also reduces costs.
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Features in detail >
The BG-Counter 2 includes >
Technical details >
BG-Trap Station >
Solar power >

BG-Counter features in detail

  • The BG-Counter 2 counts mosquitoes while they are sucked into a Biogents trap and differentiates them from other insects or dust particles.
  • Mosquito counts with an accuracy of 90% have been established in field tests when working with CO2 as an attractant.
  • Up to 5 mosquitoes per second can be recorded.
  • Sampling of local environmental data: temperature, humidity and ambient light.
  • The effectiveness of control measures can be validated immediately.
  • The BG-Counter 2 minimizes maintenance effort: it can run on solar power and is self-sustaining. It is robust and well protected against weather.

The BG-Counter includes

  • 1x mobile module
  • 1x SIM card for data transmission
  • 1x fan adapter cable
  • 1x battery cable
  • 1x outdoor power supply
  • 1x CO2 pressure reducing regulator with output pressure of 2 bars
  • 1x CO2 tube
  • 1x BG-Pro Counter version (1x funnel net, 2x catch bag, 1x inner cylinder with upper part and lower part with 12V fan, 1x trap body, 1x carrying bag, 1x tripod)

Necessary web application:
To manage the BG-Counter via the web application, an annual subscription fee is necessary. Please contact our sales team for this subscription: sales@biogents.com


Technical details

The patented insect sensor consists of arrays of infrared LEDs and light detectors that provide reliable and sensitive detection and differentiation of moquitoes from other objects entering the trap.

The heart of the BG-Counter 2 is a highly integrated printed circuit board which incorporates:

  • An infrared sensor
  • environmental sensors for temperature, relative humidity and ambient light
  • a cellular module for communication with the web server
  • an SD card for onboard data storage, fan and CO2 valve control
  • two powerful microprocessors for control and communication

BG-Trap Station

Biogents‘ BG-Trap Station is a robust and ideal shelter for your BG-Counter 2.

The BG-Trap station

  • is made of stainless steel
  • protects your BG-Counter 2 from environmental conditions
  • can be attached to any type of terrain

Solar power

You can run the BG-Counter 2 on solar power. In this way, remote monitoring get’s even easier!

In the video below, Catherine Pruszynski from the Floria Keys Mosquito Control District shows how to set up the BG-Counter 2 with a solar panel.

How to set up a solar powered BG-Counter with a BG-Pro mosquito trap

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BG-Counter App

The BG-Counter app is a vital part of the BG-Counter 2. The Counter sends data from the field (mosquito counts, environmental data, geospatial data) to the web-based BG-Counter App. The data base is automatically updated with the data constantly generated in the field.

The database for storage of mosquito counts, geospatial, and environmental data (temperature, humidity, and light), is automatically updated. The data can be exported to Excel.

In the BG-Counter App, you can:

  • Manage your traps
  • Set up time schedules for traps and CO2
  • Comprehensively analyze your data
BG-Counter web application

To manage the BG-Counter via the web application, an annual subscription fee is necessary. Please contact our sales team for this subscription: sales@biogents.com

CO2

The BG-Counter 2 comes with a CO2 pressure regulator and we strongly recommend to use the BG-Counter with CO2!

Adding carbon dioxide

  • highly increases the overall mosquito catch rate
  • highly increases the trap’s specificity for mosquitoes (and other hematophagous insects)
  • makes the trap highly attractive for all mosquito species

Tipps for saving CO2:

  • In order to save CO2, you can define time periods in which CO2 is being released, after you have established the daily activity pattern of your local target mosquito species.
  • If you want to keep a close eye on the day-and night active mosquitoes around the clock, you might as well choose a schedule of 30 min CO2/ 30 min CO2 off or similar.

It is however important that you keep in mind, that your BG-Counter will only collect reliable data with CO2.

BG-Lure

We highly recommend that you use the BG-Lure in addition to CO2 as it acts as an synergist and can multiply your mosquito catch rates:

BG trap synergism BG-Lure and CO2
Result of a 4×4 Latin square field test of four BG-Sentinel traps in Cesenatico, Italy (N=11).

Presentations & Customer Stories >

Publications >

Posters >

Newspaper Articles>

Customer videos>

Blog>

Presentations & Customer Stories

Many customers already use the BG-Counter. Learn more about their experiences in publications and their success stories.

PDFRosales A., Evaluating BG-Counter performance in surveilling Collier County’s diverse mosquito populations, presentation at the FMCA Meeting 2022.

mp4 video   Heinig R, Puente J, Brake P, Phillips N, Lucas K. Rise of the machines: BG-Counters’ expanding role in CMCD’s mosquito surveillance program, oral presentation at the virtual AMCA Meeting 2021.

PDFReed M., Wheeler S., Dritz D., Samer Elkashef S. Utilizing New Technology for Mosquito Surveillance: The BG Counter Trap- A Game Changer, oral presentation at the AMCA Meeting 2019.

PDFBoisvert M. Study of the behavior of Culex tarsalis in a rice field environment using a BG-Counter, presentation at the AMCA Meeting 2019.

PDF Kartzinel M., Clifton M. Real-Time District-Wide Surveillance with the Biogents BG-Counter, presentation at the AMCA Meeting 2018.

PDF Boisvert M. BG-Counter : A very efficient multi-task tool, presentation at the AMCA 2018.

PDFWillis S. Use of the Biogents BG-Counter With Gravid Mosquitoes and the Efficacy of Aerial Applications for Nuisance Mosquitoes presentation at the ALMCA Meeting 2017.


Publications

Hribar LJ, Boehmler MB, Murray HL, Pruszynski CA, Leal AL. Mosquito Surveillance and Insecticide Resistance Monitoring Conducted by the Florida Keys Mosquito Control District, Monroe County, Florida, USA. Insects 2022, 13, 927. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects13100927

Wheeler SS, Reed M, Ramos S, Goodman G, Elkashef S (2022). Programmatic review of the mosquito control methods used in the highly industrialized rice agroecosystems of Sacramento and Yolo Counties, California. Wetlands Ecol Managehttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-022-09893-1

Johnson BJ, Manby R, Devine GJ (2022). The Use of Automated Traps to Assess the Efficacy of Insecticide Barrier Treatments Against Abundant Mosquitoes in Remote Environments. Journal of Medical Entomology, 59(1):384-389. https://doi.org/10.1093/jme/tjab178

Johnson BJ, Manby R, Devine GJ (2020). Further evidence that development and buffer zones do little to reduce mosquito nuisance from neighboring habitat. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 36(3):204–207, 2020. https://doi.org/10.2987/20-6951.1

Johnson BJ, Manby R, Devine GJ (2020). What Happens on Islands, doesn’t Stay on Islands: Patterns of Synchronicity in Mosquito Nuisance and Host-Seeking Activity between a Mangrove Island and Adjacent Coastal Development. Urban Ecosystems. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-020-00998-0

Lucas KJ, Watkins A, Phillips N, Appazato DJ, Linn P (2019). The Impact of Hurricane Irma on Population Density of the Black Salt-Marsh Mosquito, Aedes taeniorhynchus, in Collier County, Florida. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association, 35(1): 71-74. https://meridian.allenpress.com/jamca/article/35/1/71/467872/The-Impact-of-Hurricane-Irma-on-Population-Density

Clifton ME, Xamplas CP, Nasci RS, Harbison J (2019) Gravid Culex pipiens Exhibit A Reduced Susceptibility to Ultra–Low Volume Adult Control Treatments Under Field Conditions. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association: December 2019, Vol. 35, No. 4, pp. 267-278.
https://meridian.allenpress.com/jamca/article/35/4/267/438747/Gravid-Culex-pipiens-Exhibit-A-Reduced

Pruszynski C (2016) The BG-Counter: A New Surveillance Trap that Remotely Measures Mosquito Density in Real Time. Wing Beats 27(1):13-18.

 


Posters

Geier et. al (2016) A smart Internet of Things (loT) device for monitoring mosquito trap counts in the field while drinking coffee at your desk. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294580125
DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.1.5156.5843


Newspaper Articles

Kaleej Times, UAE; Ashwani Kumar /Abu Dhabi (2020/1/26)

440 smart mosquito traps to be deployed across UAE

Tadweer has developed an effective, efficient and sustainable way to trap mosquitoes.
More than 400 solar-powered smart traps will be installed across the country from February 1 to catch mosquitoes and thus keep a check on the outbreak of diseases like malaria, dengue, Yellow Fever and West Nile Virus, an official from Abu Dhabi Waste Management Centre (Tadweer) said.
Read the full original article in the Kaleej Times >


Customer videos

Rentokil Boecker Collaboration with TADWEER to Protect Abu Dhabi Emirate


Blog

Video: Rentokil Boecker Collaboration with TADWEER to Protect Abu Dhabi Emirate

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Registration:

  • go to live.bg-counter.com/users/register
  • enter your e-mail address
  • re-enter your e-mail address to make sure it’s correct
  • enter the serial number of the counter (IMEI, located on a sticker on the bottom of the counter): choose in the left field the number that fits to the first digits of your serial number. Then add the last 7 digits in the right field.

You will receive a confirmation e-mail with a temporary password and a link to activate your account.
Now you are a registered customer.

Log-in:
To check and control the counter, go to live.bg-counter.com:

  • click on “Profile” to set a new password for your account
  • click on “Trap Management” to set the trap name, schedule etc
  • click on “User Management” to invite other users

If you have more than one counter, you can add them to your account in “Trap Management”.

Manual and Support:
The BG-Counter 2 works with a preset pressure regulator as well as with an adjustable pressure regulator which must be set at 1.5 kg/day (corresponding to 2.6 bar). For further details please see the manual.
You can download the manual with a detailed description of all counter and website functions here:

PDFManual for the BG-Counter 1 >>

PDFManual for the BG-Counter 2 >>

If you have any problems or questions, please contact your sales office: sales@biogents.com!

The development of the BG-Counter was partly supported by the EU’s 7th Framework Programme (grant n° 306105, project accronym MCD)

Ordering and pricing

Interested? For larger order inquiries, please contact sales@biogents.com
For small order quantities you can order conveniently via our webshop for researchers >

BG-Counter with BG-Trap Station and CO2 bottle
BG-Counter with BG-Trap Station and CO2 bottle