How long should gravid traps run to maximize catches without degrading samples

To maximize mosquito catches in gravid traps without degrading samples, traps should typically be run overnight for a single 16–18 hour period—from late afternoon (about 2–4 p.m.) until early the next morning (8–9 a.m.). This timing aligns with peak mosquito activity and helps ensure sample quality for identification and pathogen testing.

Key points:

Single overnight run: Gravid traps are best set in late afternoon and collected early the next morning.
Why not longer? Running the trap for multiple days can cause sample degradation:
- Mosquitoes may die, decompose, or get damaged, especially if exposed to heat, humidity, or predation by ants and other insects in the trap.
- Viral RNA and other biological markers used for testing can also degrade quickly in dead mosquitoes.
Sample quality: Frequent (ideally daily) collection yields the best-quality, most usable samples for identification or further analysis.

Summary:
Run gravid traps for a single overnight period (late afternoon to early next morning) to maximize catches and maintain high sample quality—do not operate the same trap for multiple consecutive days without collection.