NCFC Youth tests pesticide-free mosquito control at Raleigh soccer park

Key Points:

• Three mosquito traps installed at WRAL Soccer Park have captured over 9,000 female mosquitoes since mid-July, as part of a pilot program by NCFC Youth and Biogents aiming to reduce pesticide use and improve comfort for players and families.
• The traps mimic human scents and carbon dioxide to attract mosquitoes without using chemical sprays or light, targeting mosquitoes near shaded edges of the property where they typically shelter.
• The pilot addresses growing resistance to pyrethroid insecticides among Wake County mosquitoes, with studies showing resistance mutations in 39% of sampled mosquitoes in 2023, signaling an early warning of evolving chemical resistance.
• Climate changes have extended the mosquito season in Raleigh by 27 days since 1979, increasing the need for effective and sustainable mosquito control methods like these traps.
• While the traps show promising results, with fewer mosquitoes noticed near the maintenance area, NCFC Youth is monitoring data to decide on expanding the system, balancing costs and labor against the benefits of reduced pesticide exposure for children.