Which device is most commonly used to collect adult mosquitoes in Maryland?

Which device is most commonly used to collect adult mosquitoes in Maryland?

• A. Gravid trap
• B. BG-Sentinel trap
• C. CDC light trap
• D. New Jersey light trap

Answer: (C)

The main concept here is recognizing which trap is most commonly used for monitoring adult mosquitoes in Maryland. The CDC light trap is the best answer because it has become the standard tool for broad adult-mosquito surveillance across many states, including Maryland. It uses a simple light to attract host-seeking mosquitoes and a fan to pull them into a collection container. This setup works across a wide range of species, especially during the evening and night hours, providing consistent, comparable data on adult densities and species composition over time and across locations. Because it is relatively inexpensive, easy to deploy, and compatible with routine processing for identification and pathogen testing, public health programs rely on CDC light traps as a baseline surveillance method.

Gravid traps, in contrast, target females that are ready to lay eggs and are more species- and behavior-specific (often Culex). BG-Sentinel traps require specialized attractants and sometimes CO2, making them more targeted and costly for particular species like Aedes, rather than serving as a general surveillance tool. New Jersey light traps are less commonly used nationwide today and are not as widely deployed in Maryland as the CDC light trap.