An innovative mosquito trap for testing attractants.

We describe a simple trap modification for testing volatile attractants to collect flying mosquitoes. The trap uses a standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention trap modified for release of test chemicals. Test chemicals and other materials can be added and removed easily without spills or cross contamination. In preliminary studies using lactic acid and octenol, modified traps collected 40% more mosquitoes than controls (n = 164 and n = 117, respectively). Modifications cost less than $2.00 per trap.

An inexpensive, versatile mosquito rearing chamber for field, laboratory, and classroom investigations.

An inexpensive mosquito rearing chamber for field, laboratory, and classroom investigations is described. The rearing chamber is made from plastics recycled from peanut butter jars and room deodorizers. The top of the chamber requires mesh material and gluing. The cost for the rearing chamber is negligible. The design of the chamber allows for direct field collecting of larvae and for easy knock down/cold storage of emerged adults. In addition to its use in field and laboratory investigations, the chamber is an excellent device for classroom study of insect metamorphosis.