Engineer Develops Low-Cost Cardboard Mosquito Trap to Disrupt Breeding Cycles

Pune-based engineer Prasad Phadke has developed a mosquito control device called the Eco BioTrap, designed to interrupt the breeding cycles of mosquitoes that transmit diseases such as dengue and malaria. The trap is constructed primarily from recycled cardboard, making it low-cost and environmentally friendly.

The device operates without electricity, burning coils, or chemical sprays. Instead, it uses a natural attractant to lure female mosquitoes to lay eggs in water contained within the trap. An insect growth regulator (IGR) present in the water prevents the larvae from developing into adults, effectively breaking the reproductive cycle at the source.

Phadke, who previously worked in the corporate sector, left his job to focus on developing and deploying this technology. The unit is priced at approximately Rs 500 (around $6 USD), aiming to make it accessible for households and communities in areas with high mosquito-borne disease burdens.

The trap targets container-breeding species like Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, which are primary vectors for dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, as well as Anopheles species that transmit malaria. By focusing on the larval stage, the method reduces the adult mosquito population without relying on broad-spectrum insecticides.

Field deployments have been conducted in residential societies and public spaces in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. The inventor states that the trap remains effective for several weeks before the cardboard structure degrades naturally, after which it can be composted or replaced.

The innovation addresses a gap in vector control strategies that often depend on community compliance with source reduction (removing standing water) or recurring costs of repellents and electric vaporizers. The passive nature of the trap requires minimal user intervention once installed.

While the device shows promise as a supplementary tool, public health experts note that integrated vector management — combining traps, sanitation, biological controls, and community education — remains essential for sustained disease reduction. The Eco BioTrap is currently undergoing further evaluation for scalability and long-term impact on disease incidence.

Phadke's work represents a shift toward affordable, non-electric interventions that can be deployed at the household level in resource-constrained settings where mosquito-borne diseases are endemic.