Entomology shop maintains mosquito population

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder
  • 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  Summer in Alaska can be the best time of the year with virtually continuous daylight and warm weather. However, with nice weather comes a small blood-sucking menace; the mosquito.

In Alaska there are 35 different species of mosquitoes and all but a few will feed on people. They breed near stagnant water so the population can be fierce in those areas.

One of the people at Eielson Air Force Base combating this nuisance is Tech. Sgt. Christopher Beach, 354th Civil Engineer Squadron entomology shop. He currently has 20 strategically placed mosquito magnets around base.

"The mosquito magnets we put in public places improve the quality of life for personnel living on base," said Sergeant Beach. "Residents can use more public areas on base with minimal distractions from these nuisance insects."

The magnets are designed to give off carbon dioxide from a propane tank which replicates the human breath attracting the mosquitoes. Once they get close enough to the source a vacuum will suck them up into a trap. Each trap is checked once a week and emptied if needed.

After checking the traps Sergeant Beach returns to the entomology shop where he can record the amount of mosquitoes captured. Last year alone they captured more than three million mosquitoes. They will then compile a sample to be given to Public Health which they will then package and ship it off to Brooks City-Base, Texas to be test for any diseases such as West Nile, Dengue's Fever, Malaria, Yellow Fever and many more.

"Certain viruses can't be detected in a populated area but by trapping and testing mosquitoes in certain places we are able to detect and quarantine, preventing potential disease outbreaks," said Airman 1st Class Demario Petty, 354th Medical Operations Squadron public health.

Currently there have been no recorded disease outbreaks resulting from mosquitoes in Alaska.

"The mission will continue to go on despite the mosquito population but we will try to ease the nuisance factor for personnel working outside as much as possible," said Sergeant Beach.