How does the In2Care Mosquito Trap work?

The In2Care Mosquito Trap targets two life-stages of the mosquito, the adults and the larvae at the moment they pupate.  Adult mosquitoes are lured to the trap and deposit eggs in the water. Inside the trap they sit on the floater gauze and become contaminated with a slow-killing biological fungus and a larvicide. The fungus infection takes a few days to kill the mosquito and can block Dengue virus replication. In the meantime, the infected mosquito will also spread larvicide to breeding sites around the trap. Aedes mosquitoes are skip-ovipositors (laying their eggs in multiple sites) and will carry the larvicide on their legs and kill larvae in each water body they visit.

How does the Trap attract mosquitoes?

The black color, design, water and our special organic odor lure will attract egg-laying females. The Trap is designed to be attractive to Aedes mosquitoes in particular, who like laying eggs inside artificial containers. Other mosquito species, such as Culex mosquitoes can also be attracted to lay eggs inside the trap.

Can I see dead mosquitoes in my trap?

The biological fungus in the trap will kill the adult mosquito in a couple of days. The infection takes time because the fungus spores need to penetrate the mosquito skin and grow into her body. In that timeframe she will contaminate other breeding sites in the proximity of the trap, and die afterwards. That is why you will not see (lots of) dead mosquitoes inside the trap.

I see a lot of living larvae in my trap, what does this mean?

The special larvicide in the trap kills mosquito larvae only at the moment they pupate. The larvae in the trap will therefore die right before they would otherwise emerge into adult mosquitoes. These dead pupae are often eaten by the larvae and you will not be able to see them in the water. Seeing a lot of live larvae inside the trap thus does not mean it is not working. On the contrary, the larval odours actually make the trap even more attractive to egg-laying females.

Will the trap also have an effect on other mosquito species?

The trap is designed for the control of Aedes aegypti, a mosquito species that is the vector of the Dengue and Chikungunya virus and breeds typically in small artificial (man-made) containers. For other mosquito species that prefer these types of breeding places, like several Culex mosquitoes, the trap will also be attractive. The actives in the trap will also have an impact on other mosquito species. The dissemination effect of the larvicide, however, is specific for the Aedes mosquito, which like to lay eggs in multiple places.

How often do I need to refill the water in the Trap?

It is recommended to replenish the water in the trap together with the new refill, every 4 weeks. However, during dry periods it might be necessary to add water more often. This can be done without removing the lid, by pouring water on top of the trap. We recommend to top up to at least 1 liter of water as a minimum amount.

What happens when it rains a lot? Does this dilute the larvicide and reduce the trap’s efficacy?

The larvicide in the water of the trap works in very low concentrations, less than 0.001 milligram per liter water. The amount of larvicide added to the trap water is sufficient to kill all larvae in the trap, even with a lot of rain. We also recommend placing the traps in shaded, vegetated areas, where mosquitoes like to breed and no heavy rain input is expected.

I still get mosquito bites, does this mean the trap does not work properly?

The trap does not target mosquitoes when they are in search of a bloodmeal. It is specifically designed for mosquitoes at the moment they are laying eggs. However, a high enough coverage of traps in your area will cause a decrease in the amount of mosquitoes and will reduce the chance of disease. It will take some time to have the larvicide disseminated in the area and therefore a few (3-4) weeks a significant population impact can be expected.

What effect will the In2Care Mosquito Trap have on my pets?

The active ingredients in our trap are not toxic to birds or mammals. We make use of a biological fungus that is only toxic to insects. The larvicide deployed in the trap specifically targets mosquito larvae and is not toxic to higher organisms in this low concentration. For example, in other products this larvicide has even been approved by WHO for use in drinking water. Contaminated females will only spread tiny amounts of larvicide (a few micrograms) to other artificial small water bodies, which limits any risk for other aquatic organisms and fish.

Why do we need a new mosquito product to fight Dengue & Chikungunya virus?

Dengue Fever and Chikungunya are nasty viral diseases for which no drugs or vaccines are available. They are quickly spreading to several countries. In 2014 alone, there were 850,000 Dengue cases reported in the Americas, and more than half a million cases of Chikungunya. In several areas, there have been large epidemic outbreaks and vector control remains the only option to fight these diseases. High-end tourist destinations are not immune. Aedes mosquitoes are difficult to combat, as they lay eggs in just about any small water source, such as flower pots, discarded tires and empty containers. Another thing that makes it increasingly more difficult to control mosquitoes, is that they have become resistant to the chemicals that are used in vector control efforts. Other tools, like our Trap, are thus urgently needed.