- Bionic mosquito traps developed over three years are replacing large-scale pesticide spraying in parts of Hangzhou
- The devices are set to enter schools next as demand grows for chemical-free mosquito control
A Hangzhou-based technology company is expanding deployment of a mosquito-trapping system designed to lure and eliminate mosquitos without pesticides, after early trials in public parks showed promising results.
Tieqiong Landun (铁穹蓝盾), the Hangzhou branch of a Shanghai-based pest control company, said its “Shi Wen Niao,” or “Mosquito-Eating Bird,” device was developed over three years in partnership with a team led by academician Jiang Biao at the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry under the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
The system has already been installed at venues including Grand Canal Music Park and Banshan Park in Hangzhou’s Gongshu District, where it is being used as an alternative to conventional large-area chemical spraying.
The company said the next phase will focus on schools as part of efforts to create mosquito-free campuses.
“Only female mosquitoes bite people. We essentially created a fake human that is more attractive than a real one, specifically to lure and capture them,” operations director Rui Ning said.
Physical trapping
Unlike traditional pest-control methods, the device relies on physical trapping rather than chemical agents. It combines 365nm and 385nm ultraviolet light with a patented attractant designed to mimic human scent.
It includes compounds associated with lactic acid and perspiration. Temperature and humidity are also regulated to enhance attraction.
Once mosquitoes approach, they are drawn into a sealed chamber by a high-speed negative-pressure airflow system.
The process involves no electric shocks and no chemical additives, making the devices suitable for deployment around children, pets and even pregnant women, the company said.
According to operational data provided by the company, a single device at Hangzhou’s Grand Canal Music Park captured more than 680 mosquitoes in one day during a three-day trial period. Cumulative captures across the site exceeded 13,000 mosquitoes.
The company said the system has now been deployed at more than 100 locations nationwide, with the highest recorded daily catch from a single unit reaching 4,445 mosquitoes.
The device is currently lists for 9,500 yuan ($1,405) on the company’s WeChat e-commerce store.
Upcoming school installations
Additional installations are planned at an auto culture park, schools and residential communities in Hangzhou. The company said school deployments are expected to begin later this month.
The idea for the device originated from a camping trip three years ago, when several team members were kept awake by mosquitoes and one companion required medical treatment after a severe allergic reaction.
“There wasn’t a good solution on the market, so we decided to build one ourselves,” Rui said.
From laboratory development to city parks and upcoming deployments in schools and neighborhoods, the company is betting that demand for chemical-free mosquito control will continue to grow.
