Penang Hill BioBlitz Argonaut Update — Travis McCoy
Student Argonaut Travis McCoy is from Littleton, West Virginia. He shared his journal entry documenting his experience working with the mosquito survey team.
Today when I arrived at base camp I learned that I was going to collect mosquitos from traps with Dr. Durrel Kapan.
After hiking through the rainforest to Site 2 we arrived at a dry ice trap and a UV light trap hanging from a tree. There were many mosquitos inside the mesh of both traps. About 40 meters from the other traps there were two more traps: another dry ice and another UV light.
I asked what the point of the dry ice was. I found out that it attracts the mosquitos because it produces carbon dioxide, then a fan pulls them down and traps them in a white mesh bag.
The UV light trap works much like the dry ice trap, but instead of carbon dioxide it uses a light to attract the mosquitoes.
After collecting the mosquitos from the traps we went to the stream to collect mosquito larvae. We used turkey basters and plastic bags — very simple tools! — to collect our samples. We did not see larvae, but we put water in a trap to entice the mosquitos to lay eggs in the water. The trap also has a fan to suck up the mosquitos just like the dry ice and UV light traps.
After putting away the mesh bags full of mosquitos we made our way back to base camp. Dr. Kapan will analyze the mosquitos DNA and look for any viruses they are carrying. He also analyzes the blood in their guts to see what animals they have been feeding on.
When we arrived back at base camp there was lunch ready on the tables. The meal included many delicious foods like rice, chicken, fish and many more prepared in ways I’ve never even heard of. There was also some amazing juice called black current that tasted a lot like grapes. Shortly after finishing my meal all of the JASON Argonauts walked to the canopy walkway to get harnessed in and experience the great views. The views were extraordinary — like nothing I have ever seen before.
