Student Research Reports

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There are many different factors that go into attracting mosquitoes to traps. Some conditions can be so drastic that no mosquitoes will be attracted to traps at all, despite the traps being in an area with a high mosquito population. This experiment is intended to help future interns build more successful traps in order to gather the most accurate data possible. Using the GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper app to document my data, I counted the mosquitoes I had gathered each week in an attempt to determine if there was a correlation between the water level on attracting mosquitoes. As the weeks passed, however, I also began testing different amounts of bait used to try and find correlations with that factor as well. I also found a small amount of data related to light exposure levels, however this was outside the scope of my testing. To continue this project, I would have liked to have tested a broader range in water levels that extends to deeper levels than I had tested. Future weeks would also let me find a sort of “sweet spot” with the amount of bait used. To further help interns create the most optimal traps as possible, another experiment should be done related to different light exposure levels to try and find a relevant correlation between light and mosquitoes.