CMC Surveillance Trapping Service

Mosquito trapping can be an invaluable tool for the surveillance of public health threats from mosquito-borne disease, for monitoring larval control programs, and targeting adult spraying. The primary tool in any mosquito control/surveillance program is a mosquito trapping devise called a CDC Light Trap. This trap was developed in the 1960's and has been the standard tool for monitoring mosquito population levels, density, and species makeup for over thirty years.
These specially designed, battery powered light traps baited with CO2 (carbon dioxide), can be operated by CMC at selected data collection locations throughout the mosquito surveillance area to collect adult mosquitoes. The blood meal seeking female mosquito follows the CO2 vapor plume produced by the sublimation of the dry-ice into carbon dioxide gas, as would be produced by the exhaling process of any free air breathing animal, including humans. Once near the trap, a small light bulb draws the mosquito closer and a fan then sucks the mosquito into a collection bag alive.

CMC will generally operate the light trap(s), one night per week for adult mosquito and disease vector mosquito surveillance. The locations will be determined in cooperation with the contracting entity. CMC will provide all labor, dry ice, and other equipment necessary for the operation of the traps. The captured mosquitoes will be preserved and shipped to the CMC Surveillance Laboratory in Brighton for identification. Identification of the trapped mosquitoes will be done at the CMC Surveillance Laboratory the day after the mosquitoes are returned to the lab. The trapped mosquitoes will be counted and identified to Genus/species. Trap maintenance and operation will be the complete responsibility of CMC. Pools will then be made available and sent as needed to the Colorado Dept. of Public Health for virus testing.

CDC TRAPPING OPERATIONS: Cost includes all equipment, dry ice, vehicles, labor, shipping and reporting. Call for details as trapping programs may vary greatly from area to area and in data collection needs.

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CMC Surveillance Laboratory
Mosquito I.D. Service

Mosquito trapping can be an invaluable tool for the surveillance of public health threats from mosquito-borne disease, for monitoring larval control programs, and targeting adult spraying.  Total trap counts provide only a small part of the overall information that a trap catch contains.  Not all mosquitoes are equally vector competent in transmitting diseases such as the West Nile Virus.  Accurate species identification of the mosquitoes in the traps is important when monitoring species population trends and evaluating whether a population increase represents an actual increase in disease transmission potential or only an increased nuisance level.

More than 50 mosquito species have been recorded from Colorado.  The Surveillance Laboratory at Colorado Mosquito Control, Inc. has the capability to provide accurate species-level identification of mosquito specimens, for both adults and larvae, with rapid turn-around times.  If your organization has the staffing to do the trapping but lacks the scientific/technical expertise or manpower to identify the specimens, CMC’s Mosquito Identification Services can be a cost effective way to maximize the information each trap provides.

Cost of service: $20.00 per trap sample *

*for up to 500 adult mosquito specimens, with an additional $5.00 for every additional 500 specimens or fraction thereof from the same trap catch.  Does not include postage or shipping costs.  Shipping supplies, vials and labels are available for a nominal additional fee.  Samples may also be submitted to CDPHE for virus testing.

Each sample will be identified as best as possible to species, depending on condition of the specimens (Note: careful handling of dead specimens to maintain condition is critical to successful identification).  The CMC Surveillance Laboratory staff will produce a detailed report of the contents of each sample which can be e-mailed back for rapid turn around times.  CMC can help interpret the results as necessary.

For more information, to set up sample submissions or for instructions on how to package and ship trap samples, contact Michael “Doc” Weissmann in the CMC Surveillance Laboratory at (303) 558-8730 (or Toll Free at (877) 276-4306 outside of the Denver Metro Area).