The “BG-GAT” is a passive trap to stop the next generation of tiger mosquitoes
Backyard tiger mosquito control with the BG-GAT trap
Biogents BG-GAT (Gravid Aedes Trap) is a low-cost and easy to use tool that can help you reduce the population of Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus) and yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) in your backyard. These species are day active, very aggressive, and can transmit diseases like dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya.
In comparison to the BG-Mosquitaire trap which attracts mosquitoes seeking a bloodmeal, the BG-GAT targets a different stage of the mosquitoes: those mosquitoes that have already bitten and are now searching for a place to lay their eggs. The trap mimicks an alternative breeding site and uses water and oviposition cues to attract egg laying female Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes. Once in the trap, the mosquitoes are collected on a sticky surface and die. Catching egg-laying females is important for two reasons:
- First, since they have already fed on a host, they may have picked up a pathogen which could be transmitted when they feed again.
- Secondly, each female has the potential to produce between 50 – 100 eggs to expand the population. By removing these mosquitoes, the BG-GAT trap helps to stop the next generation of tiger mosquitoes and limit population expansion.
The trap is passive, which means it does not require power or supplemental attractants like CO2 or chemical lures. This provides great flexibility in deployment and easiness in handling. In order to achieve maximum effectiveness of the BG-GAT it is recommended to remove competitive breeding sources. Females that have already had a bloodmeal are found in much smaller numbers in the population compared to those that are host-seeking. Therefore, the BG-GAT will naturally catch fewer mosquitoes than the BG-Mosquitaire.
The BG-GAT trap
- is low-cost
- easy to set up and deploy
- needs no power
- does not use pesticides
Its affordability and ease of use make the BG-GAT well-suited for both the individual backyard mosquito control and for neighborhood control programs.
The BG-GATs are available in multiples of 2 or 12.