Novel Vector Survaillance Trap for Flying Insects

Civilian and military organizations throughout the world perform surveillance to combat vector-borne disease. Of particular concern to the U.S. military are mosquito genera Anopheles, Aedes and Culex, which are important vectors for malaria, dengue and West Nile virus respectively, and sand fly genera Phlebotomus and Lutzomyia, both vectors for leishmaniasis. The trap most commonly used for by U.S. military staff performing vector surveillance is the CDC light trap, developed in the 1960s. Unfortunately, this trap is not effective against the complete range of vectors that threaten deployed forces, and has other deficiencies. Thus U.S. forces urgently require a highly versatile trap that efficiently captures multiple vector species, and is also lightweight, rugged, freestanding, compact for portability, and does not require an external power source. TDA Research, Inc. (TDA) proposes to design a versatile trap for flying insects that incorporates all these features. In developing the trap design, TDA and its team will integrate recent advances in understanding of vector behavior critical to trapping, as well as incorporate the latest materials and power sources. In Phase I we will produce a trap design and fabricate prototypes for initial tests in an enclosure and in the field.