Step 1 – Find a container
Choose a container that's 1 to 2 litres in size so it doesn't need to be refilled. Rinse it out with water twice before you use it.
Black or dark coloured containers are ideal because urban mosquitoes are attracted to them. You can use things like old coffee jars, ice cream containers or soft drink bottles with the tops cut off.
If you don't have a dark container, you can put yours in something darker like a black plant pot.
Step 2 – Attach your egg collection strip
Hang your egg collection strip inside the container so it touches the bottom. Trim off any extra strip that's outside the container.
Step 3 – Secure your egg collection strip
Use the paperclip in your kit to keep the egg collection strip in place.
Step 4 – Fill the container with water
Use cold tap water to fill your container about 3/4 full. There needs to be enough water to last 2 to 3 weeks without refilling it.
Step 5 – Add the lucerne pellet
Add the lucerne pellet to the water. This helps attract female urban mosquitos to the ovitrap.
Step 6 – Wait for 2 weeks
Female urban mosquitoes that visit your yard will lay their eggs on the egg collection strip. The eggs are very small - 1 mm in size or less.
After 2 weeks, if you can see eggs on the collection strip, it's ready to send back to us.
If you can’t see any eggs, leave the trap out for one more week before you send it back to us even if you can't see any eggs. Recording zero eggs is also an important result.
Keep your ovitrap dry
Mosquito eggs only hatch when they're re-flooded. If they hatch in your ovitrap, there won't be any eggs to test so make sure you:
- keep your ovitrap out of the rain and wind so it doesn't collect any more water
- don't splash water inside your container when you check it
- don't add extra water after you've set it up
- put your ovitrap where it won't be disturbed by pets, children, hoses or sprinklers.
Updates and support
During the round, we’ll keep in touch with you by sending the following SMS or email reminders.
- Confirmation that you’ve got your egg collection kit
- Week 1 reminder to confirm your ovitrap is set up and check if you’ve collected any eggs
- Week 2 reminder to return your egg collection strip to us or leave your ovitrap out for another week
- Final reminder to send your egg collection strip to us.
When the round is finished, we’ll let you know how many eggs were in your trap.
How to send your egg collection strip back
Step 1 – Remove the strip
Remove the strip from your ovitrap. It'll be wet so let it air-dry or use the blotting paper in the kit to mop up the water. Wrap the damp strip in the paper.
Step 2 – Use the sealable bag
Put the strip (dry or still wrapped in blotting paper) in the barcoded bag. Make sure the bag is tightly sealed.
Step 3 – Send the strip back to us
Put the barcoded bag into the postage paid and pre-addressed envelope and send it back to us.
Contact us
Email MSPHU-Med-Ent@health.qld.gov.au for help or if you have questions about your kit.