Sampling methods for potential epidemic vectors of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus in Massachusetts

To determine which of 11 trapping methods best sampled populations of 6 potential epidemic vectors of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus, we compared New Jersey (NJ) light trap, CDC light trap, CDC with octenol, CDC with CO2, CDC with CO2 plus octenol, American Biophysics light trap with flickering light (AB flicker), AB steady light, AB flicker with octenol, AB flicker with CO2, AB flicker with CO2 plus octenol, and 3 resting boxes. There was no significant difference between CDC and AB light traps (P > 0.05). The addition of octenol increased trap catch with both CDC and AB light traps; however, this increase was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Both brands supplemented with CO2 collected more Aedes canadensis, Coquillettidia perturbans, Culex salinarius, and Anopheles spp. than did unbaited light traps (P < 0.05). The addition of octenol to CO2 increased collections of Anopheles spp. and decreased collections of Aedes spp. and Cq. perturbans at some sites, but these changes were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Resting boxes were best for sampling bloodfed or parous Anopheles spp. The NJ, AB flicker, and AB steady light traps were not effective for sampling potential vectors of EEE virus.