People across Illinois can help researchers track mosquitoes as part of a new project at the Prairie Research Institute.
The Mosquito Ambassador Program is a citizen science project that aims to spread awareness of mosquito-borne diseases, empower people to assist with mosquito prevention in their neighborhoods, and gather more data on mosquitoes in Illinois.
By collecting eggs with easy-to-use kits, participants will help researchers by increasing the number of locations mosquitoes are studied each year.
“Anyone can participate and help us identify which mosquito species are present throughout the state, which provides us with knowledge about what mosquito-borne diseases may be present in a given area,” said Illinois Natural History Survey researcher Kylee Noel. “It can be easy to think of mosquitoes just as nuisances, but my hope is that this program will shed light on the danger of mosquito-borne diseases and provide information to help protect people from mosquito bites.”
Each kit comes simple materials used to collect mosquito eggs for one week and send them back to the lab — all you need is a postage stamp. Participants fill out a short online survey that asks about mosquito prevention and knowledge.
More pickup locations will be added in the future, but kits can be picked up now at:
- Urbana Free Library, 210 W. Green St., Urbana
Completed kits can be returned at this location to save postage for participants. Plastic cups that come in the kits can also be returned to this location to be reused. - Middle Fork River Forest Preserve Interpretive Center, 3485 County Road 2700 E., Penfield
- Champaign County Extension Office, 801 N. Country Fair Drive, Suite D, Champaign
- Anita Purves Nature Center, 1505 N. Broadway Ave., Urbana
- INHS Medical Entomology Lab,1902 Griffith Drive, Champaign
Pick up is only available on select days; please call (217-300-5941) or email (krnoel@illinois.edu) Kylee Noel to schedule.
The Prairie Research Institute at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign provides scientific expertise and transformative research to the people of Illinois and beyond. PRI is home to the five state scientific surveys: the Illinois Natural History Survey, Illinois State Archaeological Survey, Illinois State Geological Survey, Illinois State Water Survey, and Illinois Sustainable Technology Center.
MEDIA CONTACT
Kylee Noel
krnoel@illinois.edu
217-300-5941