TRAP mosquitoes
Traps work by mimicking what mosquitoes are looking for — a place to lay eggs, or a person to bite — and intercepting them before they do either.
Each option here targetst container-breeding mosquitoes: species that lay eggs in stagnant water, breed in small spaces, and don't travel far. The primary culprit on Capitol Hill is the Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) — the aggressive day-biter most responsible for ruining your backyard. Different traps target different stages of their behavior, and they work best in combination.
Check out our FAQs for answers to common questions from our community on traps.
-
Bucket of Doom
Cost: Free-$
Targets: egg-laying females
How it works: The most basic trap and the easiest starting point. A black bucket filled with water and a little organic matter mimics an irresistible breeding site — females fly in, lay their eggs, and a BTi dunk kills the larvae before they hatch. No power, no moving parts, no chemicals beyond the BTi.
Maintenance: Replace organic material and refresh the dunk every 3–4 weeks.
DIY: You can build one for the cost of a bucket and a dunk.
-
BG-GAT (Gravid Aedes Trap)
Cost: $$
Targets: egg-laying females
How it works: Think of the GAT as an upgraded Bucket of Doom — same standing-water lure, but with a funnel on top and a sticky card inside. Females enter to lay their eggs, get caught on the card, and don't make it back out. A BTi dunk handles any larvae that do hatch.
Each female caught stops 50–100 offspring that cycle. No power required.
Maintenance: Replace sticky cards every two weeks. Refresh organic material and top up water as needed
Ordering details: Biogents has organized a community discount on GAT traps (available in packs of 2 and packs of 12 traps) for Itty Bitty Mosquito Population Committee households. Ordering page coming soon — check back or subscribe for updates.
-
BG-Mosquitaire
Cost: $$$
Targets: host-seeking females (the ones actively trying to bite you)
How it works: The Mosquitaire doesn't mimic a breeding site — it mimics a person. A fan and Biogents' proprietary BG-Sweetscent lure attract mosquitoes hunting for a blood meal. They get drawn in, can't escape, and dehydrate. Requires a power outlet and runs best left on 24/7 — turning it off lets caught mosquitoes escape.
Adding CO2 — via canister or a DIY yeast-based setup — boosts catch rates by up to 400% and expands coverage to other species like Culex.
Maintenance: Replace the Sweetscent every 8 weeks. Change the catch bag regularly, at minimum every time you replace the Sweetscent. To dispose caught mosquitoes, freeze for 2–3 hours or leave in direct sun to dehydrate.
Ordering details: Biogents has organized a community discount on Mosquitaire traps (available in single and double packs) for Itty Bitty Mosquito Population Committee households. Ordering page coming soon — check back or subscribe for updates.