Use of hamster-baited no. 17 Trinidad mosquito traps at an eastern equine encephalomyelitis focus in Tennessee.

We set out no. 17 Trinidad traps baited with hamsters at a swamp in Tennessee, where recent eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) equine outbreaks had occurred, to determine which mosquito species at this site were attracted to these traps. We also set out CO2-baited CDC light traps for comparison. Of 11 species present in CO2-baited CDC light traps, only Culex (Melanoconion) erraticus (Dyar and Knab) blood fed on hamsters in the Trinidad traps. Significantly less Cx. erraticus mosquitoes entered Trinidad traps per trap night (mean = 17.6, median = 6.0) compared with CDC traps (mean = 38.7, median = 35.0). Advantages and disadvantages in using hamster-baited no. 17 Trinidad traps compared with CO2-baited CDC light traps to capture Cx. erraticus mosquitoes are discussed. Further understanding of the feeding behavior and ecology of this potential vector is warranted.