Efficient All-Life-Cycle Ovitrap for Effective Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) Control With Low Operational Costs

Abstract

Dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases pose significant public health threats, often exacerbated by limitations in traditional control methods. This study introduces a novel, low-cost, and easy-to-manage all-life-cycle ovitrap (ALO), designed specifically for Aedes aegypti control, offering a sustainable, pesticide-free alternative to chemical spraying. The ALO features a self-replicating design for local production and requires minimal maintenance for long-term mosquito surveillance. Comparing the ALO to standard ovitraps (SOs) and larval traps (LVTs) in field tests, the ALO demonstrated comparable attractiveness to gravid females as the SO, significantly outperforming the LVT. Two ALO models, F9 and F14, utilizing 9 cm and 14 cm funnels, respectively, attracted 100% of gravid Ae. aegypti females, with F14 capturing 2.4 times more larvae than F9. Laboratory tests demonstrated high trapping efficacy of 98.94%–99.28% and a 21.71% reduction in larval populations compared to controls. Notably, a significant negative correlation was observed between rainfall and larvae counts, suggesting the ovitrap efficacy. These findings suggest the novel ovitraps offer a promising, effective approach for controlling Ae. aegypti populations, ultimately contributing to the reduction of Aedes-borne disease transmission.