Univar and In2Care Launch Mosquito Trap in the U.S. Market

AUSTIN, Texas  - Thanks to In2Care’s successful collaboration with exclusive U.S. distributor Univar, the In2Care Mosquito Trap recently has been approved by the US-EPA for use by pest management professionals as well as mosquito abatement districts. Several state approvals are already completed; Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, South Carolina, New Mexico, Arizona. In2Care expects to have it approved in all states that have the disease carrying Aedes mosquito in the beginning of 2018.

How it works? Zika is a nasty viral disease to which no drugs or vaccines are available. The Aedes mosquito is difficult to combat, as she lays eggs in just about any small water source, such as flower pots, discarded tires and empty containers. It is almost impossible to eliminate all the breeding sources.

The In2Care Mosquito Trap takes advantage of the mosquito life cycle and breeding habits. Aedes mosquitoes prefer dark, container-like breeding sites and typically lay eggs in not just one, but in multiple sites. The Trap is based on the latest scientific knowledge and uses an organic odor lure to attract mosquitoes. It has a floater with bioactive-coated gauze that targets the mosquito in a 1-2 punch:

The first active is pyriproxyfen (PPF), a WHO-recommended mosquito larvicide that is effective in the water of the Station and kills the pre-adult stage of the mosquito. An added bonus is that PPF can be spread to other breeding sites. The egg-laying mosquito gets contaminated with PPF particles, which adhere to her skin. Because of her behavior, she flies from one water source to another, spreading a small amount of PPF to breeding sites, which prevents the development of larvae into biting adults.

The second active is a fungus, safe for mammals and humans but toxic to mosquitoes. The fungus spores infect the mosquito upon contact and kill it within a few days. The fungus grows slowly enough within the mosquito to allow the female to continue to spread the PPF to several breeding sites in the area. Even before the mosquito is killed, the fungus infection makes it very hard for the insect to be able to fly and blood-feed and to transmit disease.

In2Care US Sales Director, Ted Worster says: “Our aim was to develop a green solution; a tool not based solely on chemicals, many of which mosquitoes have formed resistance to. Our mixture is quite unique and uses the mosquito to kill its own offspring.”

For more information, visit www.pestweb.com or call Univar at 800/888-4897.