Image: In search of blood:
Which path leads to the children?
Why is this Important?
If there are many larvae developing, you can predict that in the near future there will be a lot of mosquitoes bothering people. Therefore, it is time to fight the larvae and to prepare to fight the adult mosquitoes, e.g. with a mosquito trap.
Mosquito Larvae
In the image, you see a professional dipping for larvae in a puddle. She can then count them and make an estimate of the size of the future adult population. Control measures against larvae can be BTI, a biological larvicide or, if the breeding site is a container, emptying it.
Adult Mosquitoes
How many adult mosquitoes and which species are flying around is also important to know since different kinds of mosquitoes behave differently. Some are just bothering people, while others may transmit serious diseases like West Nile, Zika or dengue. Therefore you have to take appropriate protection measures against them. And if there are many of them, you have to hurry.
Mosquito traps can not only control mosquitoes but can also be used to monitor how many mosquitoes are already flying around: In the image you see a woman checking the catch she made with a mosquito trap. This catch can be directly analyzed with the microscope that is standing on the table.
The man works on a gas bottle that is connected to the mosquito trap: The trap uses carbon dioxide gas (CO2) that imitates human breath and is very attractive to the mosquitoes. Attracted mosquitoes are drawn into the trap by a fan and then captured in the catch bag of the trap.
Image: How to play in the garden in peace without being bothered by mosquitoes.
Flying mosquitoes (adult mosquitoes)
Every species of mosquito behaves differently, so it’s important to know exactly which one is trying to bite you. Our common house mosquito, for example, mainly bothers people in the evening, whereas the Asian tiger mosquito is also active during the day and can sometimes be quite aggressive. The problem is that the tiger mosquito can transmit serious diseases such as West Nile virus, Zika or dengue fever. If the tiger mosquito is also present in your garden, it is important to take appropriate protective measures. And if there are a lot of them, you need to act quickly.
Mosquito traps can be used not only to control mosquitoes but also to monitor them – for example, to see how many are already flying about: the picture shows a woman checking the catch from a mosquito trap. Using the microscope on the table, this catch can be identified and counted straight away. The man is working on a gas cylinder connected to the mosquito trap: the trap uses carbon dioxide (CO₂), which mimics human breath and is very attractive to mosquitoes. Mosquitoes drawn to the trap are sucked into it by a fan and then held captive in the trap’s collection bag.