OL trap could solve dengue menace

A Quezon City councilor said that the mosquito ovicidal/larvicidal (OL) trap promoted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) could be the answer for the city’s dengue woes.

Third District Councilor Eufemio “Pinggoy’’ Lagumbay has lauded Mayor Herbert Bautista’s approval for purchase of the OL trap which could be an effective tool to kill mosquito eggs that prevents the breeding of adult or full-grown mosquitoes.

Lagumbay explained that the OL trap is composed of a black container, lawanit strip similar to an ice drop stick for mosquitoes to lay their eggs on and a larvicide solution that kills the mosquito larvae.

The scent of the solution attracts the female mosquitoes to lay their eggs on the stick, and the hatched larvae exposed to the solution dies.

Lagumbay said that the OL trap prevents the next generation of mosquitoes from reaching adulthood, curbing the dengue carrying insect from multiplying.

In a briefing with Lagumbay, resource person Cesar Trajano said a female mosquito lays about 150 to 300 eggs a week which may translate to as much as 1,200 eggs a month.

Around 800 or about 80 percent of these eggs eventually turn to female mosquitoes which are potential dengue carriers.

Trajano explained that mosquitoes may travel between 150 meters to 300 meters away from their breeding ground, but eventually return to the area to hatch their eggs.

A regular household needs about four OL traps, two inside and two outside the residence where they should be placed in low, dark corners of the house as it can ideally cover a 50-meter radius.

Lagumbay said that the OL trap seeks to complement the basic anti-dengue ways that include the search and destroy scheme, self-protection measure, seek early consultation ploy, and the say yes to fogging only during outbreak technique known as the 4-S formula.