Community of Stevens's Landing
Can a line of CO2 traps form a barrier that stops mosquitoes? Absolutely, positively YES!! Even when the location is surrounded by a mangrove swamp breeding site!!
Collier Mosquito Barrier at Stevens' Landing
Dr. Jeffrey Stivers, head of Research for the Collier Mosquito Control District in Florida, built an experimental 2,400-foot (730 m) mosquito barrier to protect the Stevens' Landing Condominium Association. The barrier is made of traps baited with Octenol insect lures and Praxair CO2. Then, for several months, he empirically measured the number of mosquitoes inside and outside the barrier, and he systematically recorded the level of satisfaction expressed by the residents of Stevens' Landing.
When the Barrier was on, mosquitoes inside quickly dropped to about 10% of the level outside.
Mosquitoes inside and outside Barrier
The Entomologists were happy, but what about the people who live at Stevens' Landing? Dr. Stivers polled residents regularly. Residents did not know if the Barrier was on or off. They kept journals in which they recorded weather mosquitoes were tolerable or intolerable. Look at what they had to say.
Stevens' Landing Resident's Journal
The research report concludes, "The system worked so well that the community at Stevens' Landing voted to have it installed permanently." The report goes on to say, "Once the system is installed and operational, the District will no longer need to aerially apply insecticide to the area, reducing the potential impact of such an application to the surrounding mangrove marsh environment."
Find more about this project on the Collier Mosquito Control District web site Research Programs Page.
Morley Safer of 60 Minutes and the PBS American Environmental Review was so impressed he did a segment on this technology. Now for the best news. Operating costs are a few dollars per resident per week - much less than the District spent on temporary relief from repeated aerial pesticide applications.
Copyright © 1998-2007 Mosquito Solutions