Comparison of Mosquito Abundance From Biogents Sentinel 2.0 Traps With and Without Rain Covers

Biogents Sentinel (BGS) traps have rapidly become a standard for adult Aedes aegypti surveillance. Several investigators have found that trap collections can be damaged easily by heavy dew or rain entering the trap intake port. In addition, water entering the trap may temporarily stop the fan, thus reducing the collection potential of the trap. We evaluated the effectiveness of a rain cover designed to minimize damage to mosquito trap collections from BGS 2.0 traps in a residential backyard in Jacksonville, FL. Rain covers consisted of white fiberglass 51-cm² sheets positioned 19, 29, and 39 cm above the air intake of the traps. One BGS trap did not have a rain cover and was used as a control standard for comparison. All traps were baited with the BG-Lure. Generally, traps with rain covers resulted in higher mosquito counts when compared with collections from uncovered traps. Overall mosquito abundance was greater from traps with the rain cover positioned at 29 cm, but this difference was not significantly different when compared with the other cover heights. Covers spaced 29 or 39 cm collected significantly more Culex quinquefasciatus compared with traps at 19 cm and no cover. Species diversity was greatest for BGS traps with the rain cover positioned at 29 cm followed by 39 cm, 19 cm, and no cover; however, differences in diversity among the traps, with or without covers, were not significant.