Which equipment is used for resting collections in barns?

• A. Light traps
• B. Aspirators in barns
• C. CO2-baited traps
• D. Oviposition traps

Answer: (B)

Resting collections focus on mosquitoes that are at rest in sheltered places during the day, such as barns. The best tool for this is an aspirator, because suction can gently pull mosquitoes off walls, beams, and other surfaces without needing them to fly or be drawn to bait. This lets you sample adults that are quietly resting and may be missed by traps that rely on flight or host cues. In barns, you can systematically sweep along walls and ceilings with the aspirator and capture the insects into a vial for later identification.

Light traps target mosquitoes that are actively flying and attracted to light, so they’re not ideal for collecting resting adults. CO2-baited traps lure host-seeking mosquitoes by releasing CO2, which again relies on active host-seeking behavior rather than resting. Oviposition traps are designed to attract gravid females looking to lay eggs, not those simply resting.