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Karen Hanson of Environmental Advisory Council urges residents to "Dump, dunk, and trap" to curb mosquitoes
Summary
Karen Hanson of the Environmental Advisory Council recommended residents eliminate standing water, use the larvicide Bti where water remains, and deploy simple traps. She cited media reports of Pacific islands reducing mosquitoes without spraying and said about 80% community participation is needed for effectiveness.
Karen Hanson of the Environmental Advisory Council urged residents to remove standing water, apply targeted larvicide where necessary, and use simple traps to reduce mosquito populations. Hanson cited recent reporting in The Washington Post and Travel + Leisure that several small, tourism-dependent Pacific islands have nearly eliminated mosquitoes without relying on broad spraying.
Hanson summarized the approach with a short slogan and practical steps. "Dump, dunk, and trap," she said, explaining the steps as removing containers that collect water, placing Bti dunks or pellets in remaining water, and using traps. She warned that mosquitoes can breed in very small amounts of water, saying they "need less than a thimbleful of water to breed."
Hanson described Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) as a bacterial larvicide that targets mosquito larvae and is safe for people, pets and other animals when used as directed. She suggested simple, low-cost traps — for example, a bucket with vegetation and a Bti dunk — as an accessible option for households.
On community-scale effectiveness, Hanson said the method relies on broad participation and cautioned that isolated households will have limited impact if neighbors maintain breeding sites. "The key to success is citizen engagement and participation, as the tipping point for effectiveness is around 80%," she said. Hanson said the council will provide more detailed guidance in its next outreach video.
