Developing an effective sound trap for yellow-fever mosquitoes, Aedes aegypti

Our interest in acoustic communication in frogs and eavesdropping midges has extended our projects in basic research into more applied questions such as how to develop acoustic traps that increase the trapping efficiency of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a vector of dengue fever, yellow fever, chikunkuñia, and zika among other tropical diseases. Unlike other mosquito species, Ae. aegypti is particularly challenging to trap in efficient ways that allow robust monitoring and assessment of control programs. In addition, traps that could be used to capture this type of mosquitos in households would be important resources for reducing disease prevalence. In collaboration with colleagues at the Universidad de Antioquia in Medellin (Colombia) and at the USDA Mosquito Unit in Gainesville, Florida, we are developing a promising prototype of an acoustic trap.