Gravid Traps vs. Light Traps: Which is Better for Your Project?

Introduction

Selecting the right mosquito trap is critical for collecting high-quality, relevant data in surveillance and research projects. Two of the most widely used designs are gravid traps and light traps — each with distinct advantages depending on your goals.

In this guide, we’ll break down how they work, what they’re best used for, and how to pick the right trap for your specific project.

What Are Gravid Traps?

Purpose: Target gravid (egg-carrying) female mosquitoes ready to lay eggs.
Mechanism:

Use organic infusion attractants (often fermented plant or hay infusions) to mimic breeding habitats.
Draw in older females who have fed at least once — increasing likelihood of detecting pathogen presence.

Best For:

Public health disease surveillance (West Nile virus, St. Louis encephalitis)
Culex mosquito monitoring
Pathogen detection programs

Pros:

Highly species-selective
Ideal for virus testing
Minimal non-target captures

Cons:

Limited species diversity
Requires infusion preparation and maintenance

Recommended Product: [Entovate Gravid Traps] – durable, field-proven design for reliable vector detection.

What Are Light Traps?

Purpose: Attract host-seeking female mosquitoes (and some males) using visual and often CO₂ cues.
Mechanism:

Light source draws in phototactic species
Optional CO₂ bait expands attraction range to many species

Best For:

Broad species diversity surveys
Population density estimates
Habitat comparison studies

Pros:

Captures a wide variety of species
Can run overnight for large sample sizes
Easy to deploy in multiple habitats

Cons:

Less selective — may require more sorting in lab
May underrepresent non-phototactic species

Recommended Product: [Entovate Mosquito Light Traps] – designed for maximum capture efficiency with rugged field performance.

Side-by-Side Comparison

Feature	Gravid Trap	Light Trap
Target Stage	Gravid (egg-laying) females	Host-seeking females (and some males)
Species Selectivity	High (Culex focus)	Broad
Best Use Case	Virus detection, targeted surveillance	Diversity surveys, abundance monitoring
Non-target Capture	Low	Moderate to high
Ease of Use	Moderate (requires infusion prep)	Easy (especially with battery/CO₂ setups)
Data Focus	Pathogen presence	Population diversity/density

How to Choose the Right Trap

Ask these key questions:

What is your objective?
- Pathogen detection → Gravid trap
- Species richness & abundance → Light trap
Which mosquito species are you targeting?
- Primarily Culex → Gravid trap
- Mixed species → Light trap
What are your deployment conditions?
- Urban or semi-urban breeding sites → Gravid trap
- Rural/wild habitats → Light trap

Pro Tip: Combine for Better Results

Many vector control agencies and researchers use both trap types in parallel. Gravid traps deliver high-value samples for virus testing, while light traps broaden species coverage and provide abundance metrics. Together, they create a more complete surveillance picture.

Get the Right Tools for Your Program

At Entovate, we specialize in research-grade mosquito surveillance equipment designed for durability, accuracy, and ease of deployment in field conditions.

[Gravid Mosquito Traps] – proven for targeted disease surveillance gravid-trap
[Mosquito Light Traps] – ideal for biodiversity surveys and density studies light-traps

Contact us today to discuss the best trap setup for your monitoring or research program. contact