The Hindu : Trapping the mosquito with CO<sub>2</sub>

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Nov 12, 2002

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Trapping the mosquito with CO₂

By Anand Parthasarathy

BANGALORE NOV. 11. A new device to tackle the mosquito is making waves worldwide, spurred by the recent outbreak of near-epidemic forms of malaria in different regions. It works on an interesting principle: Fool the mosquito into thinking the device is a human, by creating a familiar `aura' — then zap it.

Popular, albeit pricey, products based on this principle are being snapped up in the South Eastern United States which has seen a number of cases of the mosquito-carried White Nile virus fever; as well as in Far Eastern countries such as Hong Kong, currently battling an outbreak of dengue fever. The mosquito is enticed by the device emitting carbon dioxide gas suitably mixed with heat and moisture, so that it mimics what large mammals breathe out.

Following its `fatal attraction' for human blood, the mosquito is lured near the device and is then vacuum-sucked into a net bag. The CO2 is catalytically converted from a small cylinder of Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG). To make it smell even more like a human, a special scent called

Octenol is added. Since no pesticides are used and no separate power source is required, the system is claimed to be environmentally-friendly. Models in the market include "Mosquito Magnet'' made by American Biophysics and Mosquito Deleto from Coleman, the well-known American manufacturer of camping equipment. In spite of stiff prices — from $ 200 to $ 1400 for various models — they have been selling "like local brew in a Key West pub,'' according to the Miami Herald.

The CNN reports that in Hong Kong too, restaurants and other outdoor venues have been installing hundreds of Mosquito Magnets to reassure customers afraid of falling prey to dengue. Since the basic raw material, LPG, is easily available in India, it may not be long before enterprising local talent comes up with a `desi' version of this latest mosquito-zapping device.

Meanwhile, Indian travellers flying in from Malaysia and Singapore, are bringing in samples of "Antimos,'' a popular mosquito repellent product in these countries. Created by a Malaysian doctor, Hew Ah Kaw, the repellent mixes Citronella, the traditional anti-mosquito remedy with pine oil, garlic and camphor in a formula based on Chinese herbalogy. The combination is claimed to numb the peripheral sensory nerves of mosquitoes, and hence, deadens their sense of smell — without which they cannot track down human victims.

Unlike creams or mats, Antimos comes in a small 20 gram plastic container which is just left open — to last about 20 days. In an interesting Indian development, "Odomos,'' a topical cream that was almost a generic name for mosquito repellent two decades ago, before it vanished from shop shelves, has been reintroduced in the market in recent weeks, as an alternative to mats.

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