A commune near Cannes in the south of France has set up 30 traps to catch mosquitoes using a mix of CO2 and body odour to help prevent the spread of tropical diseases while reducing its reliance on insecticides.
The town of Le Cannet (Alpes-Maritimes) has been using the traps that diffuse body odour and simulate human breath for three years, and is satisfied with their effectiveness at reducing the danger of tiger mosquitoes, which are known to spread dengue fever, West Nile virus and Chikungunya.
So far, the town’s experiment with the traps has proved successful:
In 2023, there were three cases of West Nile virus and nine of dengue fever in Alpes-Maritimes. None of these cases were in Le Cannet despite the commune’s stagnant waters presenting a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes.
In September, the nearby town of Nice, which does not use the traps, was obliged to démoustifier the town centre, dousing it in pyrethroid insecticide in the hope of cutting down mosquito numbers.
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Similarly, Le Cannet’s neighbouring commune, Cannes, to its south engages in regular anti-mosquito démoustification programmes relying on chemical toxins.
Le Cannet alone relies on the mechanical traps that vacuum up mosquitoes drawn to their smell simulating human breath and body odour, with the added advantage of only trapping mosquitoes.
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A 2018 study of the traps at the Tour du Valat research institute found that 99.3% of the insects caught were indeed female mosquitoes, which can lay 200 eggs in 48 hours.
While they are certainly ecological, they are far from economical: each trap costs €1,000 and according to Le Figaro, catches only 60 mosquitoes a week, bringing the cost to €16 per mosquito.
