Improved Arthropod Trap System

Biting insects and ticks represent a very substantial threat to human health. U.S. military personnel may be at greatly increased risk from insect-borne disease as they operate at locations around the world. Any program to evaluate health risks andcontrol disease-carrying arthropods relies on a system to trap the arthropods for evaluation. Improvements to the current arthropod capture technology are required to improve its efficiency and make it more readily transportable. In this project TDAResearch, Inc. (TDA) proposes to develop an improved system to trap dangerous arthropods. In Phase I we will focus on an improved mosquito trap, because mosquitoes represent both a serious threat and a challenge to trapping technology.We will first identify specific methods and formulations to increase the capture effectiveness of standard traps. We will test the units in enclosures, modifying as necessary to improve performance. We will conduct a field test to compare our improvedunit with standard technology. We will conduct an engineering analysis to assess the cost of the improved system in production and assure that it can be safely manufactured, transported used and disposed of after use. In Phase II we will completedevelopment with additional field testing.