Dallas County Health And Human Services - Mosquito Control Division

DALLAS, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 9: Mosquito Microbiologist Spencer Lockwood carries a mosquito trap to be placed for collecting mosquitoes in Dallas, Texas on November 9, 2015. The trap is comprised of a tub for stink water, a small suction fan, a mosquito net and a small battery for powering the suction fan. Stink water is what is used as bait to lure the mosquitoes to the traps. It is made of grass clippings and water and left to ripen. Dallas County Health And Human Services - Mosquito Control uses an Integrated Mosquito Management program to abate mosquito populations with various technics that include surveillance, source reduction, larvicide and adulticide. Here at the Dallas County lab, mosquitoes are collected from traps placed around the city and surrounding areas and then brought into the lab for separation. Once in the lab, the mosquitoes are anesthetized and separated by gender. Females are the ones that bite and can potentially spread viruses. They need blood and proteins to lay their eggs. Microbiologist collect and sort mosquitoes according to species and then put them into vials to be sent off for testing. If during testing a positive result comes back, the Mosquito Control lab will take the appropriate measures to treat the affected area with larvicide (treating standing water) or adulticide (spraying the area). (Photo by Jeremy Lock for The Washington Post via Getty Images)