Nationwide mosquito survey
Source: gov.uk (2025-03-06)

A survey for surveillance of UK native mosquito species and the detection of novel species in England.

CCHS navigation menu: CCHS homepage (https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/the-centre-for-climate-health-security)Topic: health impacts (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/health-impacts) Vector-borne disease: mosquitoes (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/mosquitoes)Part of: monitoring and research

Important resources for nationwide mosquito survey:
- Nationwide mosquito survey
- Information on native mosquitoes (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/summary-information-on-native-mosquitoes)
- Native mosquitoes species profiles (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mosquitoes-species-profiles)
More content:
- Snapshot mosquito survey (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nationwide-mosquito-survey)
Nationwide mosquito survey

The nationwide mosquito survey aims to provide surveillance of native species and detect novel species in England.

The project provides data on seasonality and distribution of potential vector species across England, and data is used by UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Medical Entomology to inform One Health cross government risk assessments on mosquito-borne disease (HAIRs). The project also provides a bank of samples for arbovirus testing, including climate-sensitive pathogens such as West Nile Virus and Usutu, which has recently been detected in the UK in birds and mosquitoes.

An example of this is the work on a species called Culex modestus, which has become established across the North Kent marshes, Essex, Cambridgeshire, and Suffolk. It has been the subject of enhanced surveillance projects to understand its distribution, abundance and seasonality in England.

The success of the project relies heavily on nature reserve wardens, local authorities and other volunteers to run a mosquito trap. UKHSA Medical Entomology provides the mosquito trap and all required consumables and works with volunteers to identify a location suitable for trapping at their site. The nationwide mosquito survey has been running since 2010, at over 95 sites. During this time over 235,000 mosquitoes have been recorded. The majority of the sites that have been involved with trapping are wetlands, since these are the most productive sites for a range of mosquito species, but other sites may include parks and nature reserves.

Figure 1: Map of sites that have participated in the Nationwide Mosquito Survey (2010-2024)

Figure 2: Example of a wetland

Methods

Mosquito traps are run fortnightly between 1 June and 31 October. Equipment is sent to each project participant, who operates the trap, and send the mosquito catch bag to UKHSA for identification each fortnight. Mosquitoes are identified using taxonomic keys.

Figure 2: Picture of a mosquito under a microscope

At most locations a Mosquito Magnet trap is used. These attract mosquitoes through the combination of an Octenol lure, which mimics the body smell of a mammal, and the production of heat and CO2, to attract the mosquitoes to the trap.

Figure 4: Picture of a Mosquito Magnet

In rare cases, these traps are not suitable. In these sites a BG-Pro trap is used, baited with a lure.

Figure 5: Picture of a BG-Pro trap

What the data shows

1. Site reports

For each of the sites, a short report is produced on which mosquitoes have been found, a brief species profile, and a graph showing species seasonality over the season, as shown below. A graph containing the number of female mosquitoes per trap night collected across each fortnight across the whole project is also shown and demonstrates the weekly changes in both abundance and the mosquito assemblage.

Figure 6: Example of site data output - anonymised site

Figure 7: Nationwide 2024 - all sites

2. Species found

Through the project 21 species have been recorded to date. More information on each species is available here.
- Aedes cantans/ annulipes
- Aedes caspius
- Aedes cinereus / geminus
- Aedes detritus
- Aedes dorsalis
- Aedes flavescens
- Aedes geniculatus
- Aedes punctor
- Aedes rusticus
- Aedes sticticus / nigrinus
- Aedes vexans
- Anopheles claviger
- Anopheles maculipennis
- Anopheles plumbeus
- Coquillettidia richiardii
- Culex modestus
- Culex pipiens s.l.
- Culiseta annulata
- Culiseta fumipennis / litorea
- Culiseta morsitans
- Culiseta subcleara
Get Involved

Type of sites we require

This project focusses on wetlands, nature reserves, and other sites likely to be productive for mosquitoes. Sites should be relatively free of vandalism, and with easy to access. Ideally a location with an office for deliveries of the trap bags, trap and propane gas.

Contact us

If you’re interested in running a trap please contact the email address below, using the subject line ‘Volunteer for Nationwide Mosquito Survey’

xxx@xxx.xx (mailto:xxx@xxx.xx)