A MODIFIED COMMERCIAL UV-LED TRAP FOR MOSQUITO SURVEILLANCE IN COASTAL FLORIDA

Mosquito surveillance is essential for monitoring disease risk. However, the high cost of industry-standard traps often limits sampling density in resource-constrained settings. This study evaluated a modified Katchy Indoor Insect Trap, a low-cost ultraviolet-light-emitting diode suction trap, for outdoor field surveillance in Florida. A randomized Latin square design was used to compare the modified Katchy to the New Standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Miniature Light Trap and the CDC Miniature Downdraft Blacklight Trap across three habitat types over 18 nights in 2024. A total of 4,213 mosquitoes were collected from all three traps. All traps exhibited similar mosquito abundance during the spring and summer months. However, during summer, the modified Katchy trap captured a greater species richness (18 species) than either CDC trap models (10 species each). Trap performance varied across species, and community similarity among trap types shifted seasonally. At approximately $60, including modifications, the Katchy trap represents a cost-effective option that performs comparably to the CDC models tested in this study. Although further multisite longitudinal studies are necessary to assess its performance across diverse ecological settings, these findings suggest that the modified Katchy trap is a promising supplemental surveillance tool for programs seeking to increase trap density under budget constraints.