How does the In2Care Mosquito Station work?
The In2Care Mosquito Station targets two life-stages of the mosquito, the adults and the larvae at the moment they pupate. Adult mosquitoes are lured to the station and deposit eggs in the water. Inside the station they sit on the floater gauze and become contaminated with a slow-killing biological fungus and a larvicide. The fungus infection takes a few days to kill the mosquito and can block virus replication. In the meantime, the infected mosquito will also spread larvicide to breeding sites around the Station.
How does the Station attract mosquitoes?
The black color, design, water and our special organic odor lure will attract egg-laying females. The Station is designed to be attractive to Aedes mosquitoes in particular, who like laying eggs inside artificial containers. Other mosquito species, such as Culex mosquitoes can also be attracted to lay eggs inside the trap.
What effect will the In2Care Mosquito Station have on my pets?
The In2Care system poses no harm to pets, birds or mammals (inlcuding humans). The active ingredients in the station, a biological fungus and a larvicide, are specifically designed to be toxic only to mosquitoes and mosquito larvae, respectively. The larvicide is used in a low concentration and has even been approved by WHO for use in drinking water. Contaminated females will spread only tiny amounts of the larvicide to other artificial water bodies, limiting any potential risk to other aquatic organisms or fish.
Can I see dead mosquitoes in my In2Care Mosquito Station?
The biological fungus in the trap takes a couple of days to kill the adult mosquito. This is because the fungus spores need time to penetrate the mosquito’s skin and grow inside her body. During this time, the contaminated mosquito will spread larvicide to other breeding sites in the proximity of the station before dying. Therefore, you will not see a large number of dead mosquitoes inside the station.
I see a lot of living larvae in my In2Care Mosquito Station, what does this mean?
The larvae in the trap will therefore die right before they would otherwise emerge into adult mosquitoes. These dead pupae are often eaten by other larvae, and you will not be able to see them in the water. Seeing a lot of live larvae inside the station thus does not mean it is not working. On the contrary, the larval odors actually make the trap even more attractive to egg-laying females.
How often do I need to refill the water in the Station?
It is recommended to replenish the water in the station together with the new refill, every 4 to 6 weeks. However, during dry periods it might be necessary to add water more often. This can be done without removing the lid, by pouring water on top of the station. We recommend to top up to at least 1 liter of water as a minimum amount.
I'm still getting mosquito bites, does this mean the Station is not working properly?
The station does not target mosquitoes when they are in search of a blood meal. It is specifically designed for mosquitoes at the moment they are laying eggs. However, a high enough coverage of stations in your area will lead to a decrease in the mosquito population and reduce the chance of disease. It will take some time for the larvicide to be disseminated in the area, and therefore a significant impact on the mosquito population can be expected in a few (3-4) weeks.
Why do we need a new mosquito product to fight Dengue & Chikungunya virus?
Dengue Fever and Chikungunya are nasty viral diseases for which no drugs or vaccines are available. They are quickly spreading to several countries. In 2014 alone, there were 850,000 Dengue cases reported in the Americas, and more than half a million cases of Chikungunya. In several areas, there have been large epidemic outbreaks and vector control remains the only option to fight these diseases.