In 2014, the ARS of Guadeloupe launched a call for projects to find a solution to prevent female mosquitoes from laying their eggs in the stagnant water of flowerpot dishes. The solution must be chemical-free, bait-free and require no energy to operate.

Ludovic Bouchonneau and his team at the Jarry Fablab in Guadeloupe have taken up the challenge. The basic idea is ingenious: to take advantage of the stagnant water in the flower pots, which is difficult to control, especially in the tropics !

To achieve this, Ludovic Bouchonneau and his team designed a trap for mosquito larvae, based on the principle of fishermen's traps. Positioned under the flower pot in the saucer, this trap will be a veritable death maze for the larvae, which will drown inside.

For nearly 8 years, they studied statistics on the swimming behaviour of larvae, and designed, developed and manufactured prototypes.

In 2022, the Guppytrap was ready, and the patent was filed. The final step: it was the perfect answer to the problem posed by the ARS !

"This device works like micro-nets that trap the larvae and prevent them from breathing at the surface of the water. The juveniles will die as a result of asphyxiation", explains Cédric Ramdini, health safety technician at the ARS, in a glowing report on the in-depth study of a Guppytrap prototype.

"The results of this study are very satisfactory, with a mortality rate of 97% in less than 48 hours*," he adds.

Knowing that a mosquito larva reaches maturity in +/- 1 week, it's easy to see that this trap won't give them time to do so.

*ARS tests on 02/05/2023

Since flower pots are the preferred domestic spawning site for mosquitoes, and their flight radius is no more than 150 metres, the way this trap works is a real asset in the fight against their proliferation.

Once the trap is in place and covered with water, the organic matter in the soil of the potted plant transforms the water into an ideal feeding environment for the female mosquito's future larvae. There's no need for bait as long as your plant is watered !

As soon as they hatch, the microscopic larvae will not live long. First of all, they will look for food at the bottom of the saucer. Then they will seek refuge and hide from the light: they will enter the trap through the vestibule.

And that's where the genius of this invention comes in! The trap is made up of a large number of cells forming a gigantic labyrinth of small traps arranged in a cascade.

As the larvae move through the maze, they are forced to advance further and further into the trap via the different nests (levels 1 to 8). There is no turning back. They will inevitably end up drowned in the last trap (level 8). They will perish in just a few hours, long before becoming mosquitoes.

The natural residues from the potted plant and those from the decomposition of the larvae maintain the nutritional appeal of the water and provide the best bait for this trap, which is therefore maintenance-free !

Ludovic Bouchonneau's patented invention was awarded the Silver Medal at the highly prestigious Concours Lépine International in Paris in 2023.

It also won a prize in the eco-innovative technology category of the Trophées 2022.

Finally, the development of the trap was supported by Transtech, an association that helps inventors in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Ludovic Bouchonneau, the inventor of the Guppytrap, was keen to use recycled materials to make the trap. Finding that our production of computer screens was phenomenal, he decided to use those destined for the scrap heap.

The Plexiglas inside the screens is between 4 and 10mm thick, ideal for making the base of the trap. The LCD TV panels are between 1 and 3mm thick, perfect for making the trap's covers.

In short, this trap is chemical-free, energy-free, bait-free and made from recycled screens : it's the world's most eco-responsible trap for mosquito larvae !

Dimensions : 15 cm diameter

Thickness : 9 mm

Materials : Recycled plexiglass

Weight : 26 grams

Trap sold individually.

Po find out more about mosquitoes, take a look at our special report.

Ludovic Bouchonneau, alias "Capt'n Kurt", has always been a seasoned inventor and has made mosquito control his hobbyhorse.

In 2014, he decided to respond to a problem raised by the Guadeloupe Regional Health Agency (ARS).

Capt'n Kurt, with the help of the Jarry Fablab in Guadeloupe, worked on numerous prototypes for nearly 8 years. He imagined, developed and created a labyrinth for capturing and destroying mosquito larvae under flower pots. The Guppytrap was born !

In addition to this mosquito larvae trap for green pot plants, other applications of this patented principle are currently being developed, for other potential breeding grounds such as gutters, vases, rainwater barrels, manholes and even swamps.