A new mosquito trap that releases synthetic human skin odors and sucks air into the trap through a net by an electrical fan sits on a desk at the Delaware County Health Department. (Photo: Seth Slabaugh/The Star Press)
A new mosquito trap that releases synthetic human skin odors and sucks air into the trap through a net by an electrical fan sits on a desk at the Delaware County Health Department. (Photo: Seth Slabaugh/The Star Press)
MUNCIE — The Delaware County Health Department is setting out a trap that smells like body odor in an attempt to catch mosquitoes that transmit the Zika virus.

While the best estimate of the potential range of Aedes aegypti, aka yellow fever mosquito, includes southeastern Indiana, the potential range of Aedes albopictus, aka Asian tiger mosquito, includes all but the northern tip of the state, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

But the most commonly used mosquito traps, including a plastic wash basin filled with an attractant known as "mosquito soup," do not efficiently capture yellow fever or Asian tiger mosquitoes, which transmit Zika virus.

'Don't worry' about Zika, 'prepare' for it

The health department recently acquired two battery-operated Biogents Sentinel 2-brand mosquito traps, about the size and shape of a round bird cage, that emit a synthetic human skin odor and suck air into the trap through a net by an electrical fan. The air exits the trap through a gauze, mimicking convection currents created by a human body.
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