BG-GAT
The “BG-GAT” is a passive trap to stop the next generation of tiger mosquitoes
A low-cost, easy-to-use tool targeting egg-laying female tiger mosquitoes — stopping the next generation before it hatches.
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Backyard tiger mosquito control with the BG-GAT trap
Biogents BG-GAT (Gravid Aedes Trap) is a low-cost and easy to use tool that can help you reduce the population of Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus) and yellow fever mosquitoes (Aedes aegypti) in your backyard.
These species are day active, very aggressive, and can transmit diseases like dengue fever, Zika, and chikungunya.
In comparison to the BG-Mosquitaire trap which attracts mosquitoes seeking a bloodmeal, the BG-GAT targets a different stage of the mosquitoes: those mosquitoes that have already bitten and are now searching for a place to lay their eggs. The trap mimicks an alternative breeding site and uses water and oviposition cues to attract egg laying female Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes. Once in the trap, the mosquitoes are collected on a sticky surface and die.
Catching egg-laying females is important for two reasons: First, since they have already fed on a host, they may have picked up a pathogen which could be transmitted when they feed again. Secondly, each female has the potential to produce between 50 – 100 eggs to expand the population. By removing these mosquitoes, the BG-GAT trap helps to stop the next generation of tiger mosquitoes and limit population expansion.
The trap is passive, which means it does not require power or supplemental attractants like CO2 or chemical lures. This provides great flexibility in deployment and easiness in handling. In order to achieve maximum effectiveness of the BG-GAT it is recommended to remove competitive breeding sources.
Females that have already had a bloodmeal are found in much smaller numbers in the population compared to those that are host-seeking. Therefore, the BG-GAT will naturally catch fewer mosquitoes than the BG-Mosquitaire.
Its affordability and ease of use make the BG-GAT well-suited for both the individual backyard mosquito control and for neighborhood control programs. The BG-GATs are available in multiples of 2 or 12.
Why catching egg-laying females matters
Principle of function
Female Asian tiger and yellow fever mosquitoes are attracted by water and oviposition cues and enter the transparent chamber through the black funnel. Once in the chamber, mosquitoes try to escape through the translucent windows where they are captured when they contact the surface of the sticky card. The mesh provides a barrier between mosquitoes and the infused water in the lower chamber. The sticky card in the transparent chamber will kill the mosquitoes.
“2 + 1” trap solution
The addition of the highly effective BG-Mosquitaire suction trap to the BG-GATs adds another dimension to your control effort: While the BG-GAT targets mosquitoes that are looking for a place to lay their eggs, the BG-Mosquitaire targets mosquitoes that are seeking for a bloodmeal-host. Therefore, the use of 2 BG-GATs in combination with 1 BG-Mosquitaire is the ideal solution.
2 × BG-GAT
Passive outdoor trap- low-cost
- easy to set up and deploy
- no power supply and attractant required
- targets mosquitoes that are looking for a place to lay their eggs
- lower catch rates than the BG-Mosquitaire
1 × BG-Mosquitaire
Active outdoor trap- high catch rates
- robust
- easy to set up
- power supply required
- targets mosquitoes that are searching for a bloodmeal-host
The placement of the mosquito trap is an important factor to ensure high catch rates. Therefore, it is best to test different locations!
Positioning: A humid, shady, and wind-protected location is very attractive to mosquitoes. Also, the black color of the BG-GAT attracts mosquitoes from some distance. Thus, the trap needs to be placed at a shady, humid place where it is readily visible, but protected from rain.
Effect: For efficient and sustainable mosquito control it is necessary to avoid competition between the BG-GAT trap and other breeding sites. Therefore, remove or empty competing breeding sites, such as flower pots, vases, buckets, water barrels, rain gutters, discarded cups and bottles, and plants that hold small quantities of water.
If the traps are correctly positioned and used continuously throughout the season, they will help to decrease the mosquito population in your backyard.
Features
| Type | Standing trap, made of robust plastic |
| Weight | 1.0 lbs / 0.44 kg |
| Dimensions | 10.2 x 12.2 in / 26 x 31 cm |
| Power supply | No power supply needed |
| Contents (Double Set) | 2 x trap (2 x transparent chamber, 2 x black bucket, 2 x barrier net, 2 x funnel), 1 x sticky card set (10 cards per set) |
| Contents (12-Set) | 12 x trap (12 x transparent chamber, 12 x black bucket, 12 x barrier net, 12 x funnel), 6 x sticky card set (10 cards per set) |
| Development | Developed by Dr. A. E. Eiras (Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and Dr. S. A. Ritchie (James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland, Australia). Biogents produces and distributes the trap under a license agreement with both universities. |
Examples of areas where traps can be used
- backyards and gardens
- outdoor cafés and restaurants
- hotel outdoor areas
- campgrounds
- facilities for outdoor sports and recreation
Placement of traps helps to diminish the local mosquito population when correctly positioned, continuously operated (24 hours a day throughout the mosquito season), and operation begins early in the season.
“2 + 1” trap solution
The addition of the highly effective BG-Mosquitaire suction trap to the BG-GATs adds another dimension to your control effort: While the BG-GAT targets mosquitoes that are looking for a place to lay their eggs, the BG-Mosquitaire targets mosquitoes that are seeking for a bloodmeal-host. Therefore, the use of 2 BG-GATs in combination with 1 BG-Mosquitaire is the ideal solution.
Scientific studies on the BG-GAT and other Biogents traps
Johnson BJ, Brosch D, Christiansen A, Wells E, Wells M, Bhandoola AF, Milne A, Garrison S, Fonseca DM. 2018. Neighbors help neighbors control urban mosquitoes. Sci Rep. 8(1):15797. https://doi:10.1038/s41598-018-34161-9
Download the publication >>J. E. Cilek, J. A. Knapp, A. G. Richardson (2017) Comparative Efficiency of Biogents Gravid Aedes Trap, CDC Autocidal Gravid Ovitrap, and CDC Gravid Trap in Northeastern Florida. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 33(2):103-107. 2017 doi.org/10.2987/16-6628.1
Download publication >Johnson et al., 2016: Field comparisons of the Gravid Aedes Trap (GAT) and BG-Sentinel trap for monitoring Aedes albopictus populations and notes on indoor GAT collections in Vietnam, Journal of Medical Entomology
Download the publication >Heringer et al., 2016: Evaluation of Alternative Killing Agents for Aedes aegypti in the Gravid Aedes Trap (GAT)
Download the publication >Brian Johnson and Scott Ritchie (James Cook University, Cairns, Australia) describe field trials of the BG-GAT trap, Singapore sticky and CDC AGO traps in 2014 – 2015 with very good results for the BG-GAT trap!
Download the presentation >Eiras, A.E., Buhagiar, T.S., and Ritchie, S.A. (2014): Development of the Gravid Aedes Trap for the Capture of Adult Female Container–Exploiting Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae). J. Med. Entomol. 51(1): 200-209
Download the publication >The Biogents trap system – stronger together
Biogents recommends to use the BG-GAT trap in combination with a BG-Mosquitaire trap for outdoors. Both traps complement each other in an ideal way since they target tiger mosquitoes of different stages. The third component, the BG-Home, captures those tiger mosquitoes that entered your house, and other flying insects indoors.
The complete Biogents trap system is available here >
If you are mainly bothered by mosquitoes other than tiger mosquitoes, e.g., house or floodwater mosquitoes, we recommend to use outdoors exclusively the BG-Mosquitaire trap in combination with CO2 and the BG-Booster CO2.
Complete your outdoor system with BG-Mosquitaire
2 BG-GATs + 1 BG-Mosquitaire is the ideal outdoor solution. Add the BG-Home for indoor protection. See the full Biogents Trap System.