A Gravid trap primarily lures which life stage of mosquitoes?

A Gravid trap primarily lures which life stage of mosquitoes?

• A. Eggs
• B. Larvae
• C. Adults that have taken a blood meal
• D. Pupae

Answer: (C)

Gravid traps are designed to catch gravid female mosquitoes—those that have already taken a blood meal and are ready to lay eggs. After feeding, these females seek out suitable water bodies to oviposit, and the trap emits cues that mimic an oviposition site, drawing these ready-to-breed females into the trap. Eggs, larvae, and pupae are aquatic stages and don’t fly to or respond to adult-oviposition cues, so they aren’t targeted by gravid traps. Capturing these post-fed females helps reduce the population and provides useful surveillance data.

Gravid traps are designed to catch gravid female mosquitoes—those that have already taken a blood meal and are ready to lay eggs. After feeding, these females seek out suitable water bodies to oviposit, and the trap emits cues that mimic an oviposition site, drawing these ready-to-breed females into the trap. Eggs, larvae, and pupae are aquatic stages and don’t fly to or respond to adult-oviposition cues, so they aren’t targeted by gravid traps. Capturing these post-fed females helps reduce the population and provides useful surveillance data.