Desenvolvimento, tecnologia e inovação
Ovitrap with fungus for controlling eggs and adult mosquitoes of Aedes aegypti
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What is the project?
Desde 2023, a Mosquitec, em parceria com o Grupo de Patologia de Insetos da UENF, desenvolve e testa em Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ) uma armadilha inovadora para o controle do mosquito Aedes aegypti: a ovitrampa com fungo entomopatogênico. O diferencial dessa tecnologia está na dupla ação: a armadilha infecta e elimina os ovos e os mosquitos adultos, reduzindo de forma sustentável a população desse vetor.
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Como funciona o projeto?
- Some volunteers (residences) receive ovitraps with fungus.
- Other volunteers receive only the ovitrap without the fungus (control)
- The traps are placed on balconies, on the ground next to a plant protected from sunlight.
- The objective is to verify whether residences with ovitraps with fungus will have , over time, smaller quantities of Aedes aegypti mosquito eggs, compared to ovitraps without the fungus.
How does it work?
The ovitrap with fungus is made of a black plastic pot. Inside there is a red paper with Metarhizium anisopliae fungus. This trap was developed to be used in the external environment of a residence. The trap simulates a mosquito breeding ground. Female Aedes aegypti are attracted to lay their eggs in the ovitrap and if they touch the paper with fungus they become infected and die. The mosquito eggs are also infected and die.
What happens?
Female Aedes aegypti look for the ovitrap with fungus to lay their eggs. When they touch the fungus, they become infected and die within 48 hours. Their eggs are rendered unviable (killed) by the toxic action of the fungus, reducing the mosquito population in the installed area.
Advantages:
- Scientific proof.
- Can be used in the external area of a residence.
- Mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in the fungus-containing ovitrap rather than in other breeding sites.
- Easy to use. Just place it outside and it will be working.
- Over 90% approval in the satisfaction survey.
Conclusion:
Residences with ovitraps containing fungus show a significant reduction in the number of Aedes mosquito eggs, compared to controls (with ovitraps without fungus).
