Mosquito Gravid Trap Infusion Evaluation

Gravid mosquito traps are widely used in surveillance programs to capture host-seeking, blood-fed female mosquitoes that are seeking standing water to lay eggs. The traditional infusion used in these traps is a hay-water mixture. While effective, this method has limitations in attracting certain species and may not perform equally well across all habitat types. Horse manure infusion offers a potentially more versatile and locally sourced alternative, but its efficacy relative to hay-water infusions across different environments has not been systematically evaluated.

This project evaluates whether horse manure infusion improves trap capture rates and species diversity compared to the traditional hay-water method. Study sites include pastures with and without large animals to help determine whether the presence of livestock and horses, which produce substantially more CO₂ through respiration than smaller animals, is associated with higher mosquito abundance. If so, this would suggest that CO₂ output from large animals may be a key driver of mosquito activity in agricultural settings, with implications for both trap placement strategies and public health risk assessment in livestock areas.

The project also provides hands-on training for Student Training Network interns at Penn State University in the operation of gravid traps and CO₂-baited miniature light traps.