KIM

Sustainable control of invasive mosquitoes in urban public spaces.

Abstract

Global warming and international travel have introduced the Asian tiger mosquito to Europe, including Switzerland. The species transmits dengue and zika, posing a growing public health risk. Traditional control methods are neither effective nor sustainable, and no national solution currently exists. KIM addresses this gap.

Context and Concept

KIM uses organic materials to trap and remove invasive mosquitoes from public spaces, effectively controlling their population without insecticides. By setting up the traps in an area-wide net, the mosquito population is controlled and kept small in a selective manner. These traps are quick to install, easy to maintain, and aid authorities in long-term population protection. 

Field Study, Summer 2025

For the scientifically conducted field study, ten tiger mosquito traps were installed in the allotment garden area Milchsuppe in Basel in collaboration with Swiss TPH. The study aimed to evaluate whether the KIM trap (Prototype 1) performs comparably to the Biogents Gravid Aedes Trap (BG-GAT) in capturing gravid female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes.

Five traps of each type were rotated weekly across ten fixed test locations between July and September 2025, covering the peak mosquito activity season. This head-to-head comparison allowed the performance of both trap systems to be assessed under equivalent environmental conditions.

Results, 2025 Field Study

The 2025 field study demonstrated that the KIM trap successfully captures gravid female Aedes albopictus mosquitoes under real conditions. Across ten weeks of testing in Basel, both the KIM trap and the Biogents Gravid Aedes Trap (BG-GAT) consistently captured tiger mosquitoes.

While the BG-GAT achieved higher overall capture rates, the KIM trap showed promising results, particularly regarding the capture of female mosquitoes and reduced bycatch. The study also identified several design-related factors influencing trap performance, providing valuable insights for further development and optimization of the prototype.

The field study confirmed the general functionality of the KIM trap and established a scientific basis for future iterations and continued testing in urban environments.

Special thanks to the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Swiss TPH for their scientific support and collaboration throughout the field study. In particular to Martin Gschwind and Dr. Pie Müller for their close guidance and dedication to this project.

Pilot Project, Summer 2024

During an initial three-month pilot phase, three tiger mosquito traps were installed, monitored and maintained weekly on Ausstellungsstrasse in Zurich. The primary focus of this first field test was to observe human interaction with the traps and evaluate their integration into a public urban environment.

No Aedes albopictus mosquitoes were captured during the testing period. However, this may also be related to the absence or low presence of tiger mosquitoes within the test area at the time of the study. Further field testing is planned to continue evaluating the effectiveness and usability of the system.

Project Finding 2024

The project was positively received. Passers-by showed genuine curiosity, and it attracted significant media attention. The traps performed as intended: only a few non-target insects were caught — namely one Asian bush mosquito and two common mosquitoes — and no larger animals were affected. No tiger mosquitoes were captured during this period, though this may reflect their limited presence in the test area at the time rather than trap performance. However, litter disposal inside the traps was a recurring issue that compromised trap functionality. Addressing this through a redesigned trap shape is a key objective for Prototype 2. The production partner BURRI Public Elements AG documented the project in a short video, which was shared on LinkedIn and Instagram, further extending its public reach.