Evaluation of a mass trapping strategy to prevent mosquito nuisance in campsites of southern France.

ABSTRACT

Mosquito traps, historically used for surveillance and research, have gained prominence as a tool for mosquito control, amidst concern over the environmental impact and increased resistance to insecticide-based methods. In this study, we tested the effectiveness of a mass trapping barrier design with two types of traps, Mosquito Magnet (MM) traps and BG-Protector (BGP) traps. This experiment was conducted in three coastal camping areas in southern France between summer and autumn 2022, where the presence of floodwater mosquito species with anthropophilic preferences like Aedes caspius represents a year-long nuisance. MM traps were set around the campsite as a barrier to interfere with mosquitoes from entering the campsites, whereas BGP traps were set within the campsites, with the aim of diverting mosquitoes away from humans at peak activity hours. Over 210,000 mosquitoes of 11 species from 4 genera were collected by both trap types across treatment campsites, with no significant differences in mosquito community samplings between BGP and MM traps. Barrier traps effectively targeted Ae. caspius, reducing total mosquito abundance in two of the three study sites by 34% and 55%. This study provides valuable insights into the efficacy and feasibility of using mass trapping barriers as a complementary control strategy for mosquito species in wetlands.