Mosquito hunters

Staff Sgt Derrick Jones, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, checks for mosquito larvae using a larvae dipper July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Jones checks the retention ponds and standing water after rainy weather periods for mosquito larvae. If larvae are found, they are collected, preserved and shipped to a lab for testing. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Airman 1st Class Stephen Nicer, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, places a tissue to cover the mosquito specimens in a petri dish July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Mosquitoes are trapped weekly to establish baseline mosquito catch counts for several base locations. This helps the 96th Civil Engineer Group’s Pest Management Division determine the effectiveness of their mosquito control methods. The mosquito specimens are also packaged, labeled and shipped to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where they are studied and tested for viruses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Staff Sgt. Derrick Jones, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, drops dry ice into the carbon dioxide cooler July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide that mammals exhale. The cooler emits carbon dioxide and is hung beside the traps. The carbon dioxide attracts mosquitoes and lures them into the trap. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Airman 1st Class Stephen Nicer, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, sifts through previously trapped frozen insects July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. Nicer sorts the insects for female mosquitoes. The female mosquito bites humans and mammals because they require a blood meal to reproduce. The mosquito specimens are then packaged, labeled and shipped to Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, where they are studied and tested for viruses. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Airman 1st Class Stephen Nicer, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, checks the mosquito trap near base housing July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base Fla. Nicer ensures the trap functions properly. The trap is used to catch a variety of mosquitoes during the evening hours. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Airman Kristina Dugan, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, counts and logs mosquitoes July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The information gathered from catching mosquitoes establishes baseline catch counts for several base locations. This helps the 96th Civil Engineer Group’s Pest Management Division determine the effectiveness of their mosquito control methods. The information is also shared with local and state health authorities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

A multi-directional trap hangs on a tree near the horse stables July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The trap is used to catch mosquitoes that may carry Zika, dengue and yellow fever viruses, as well as other diseases. The trap also collects daytime biting mosquitoes. The trap is placed near the stables because mammals are a primary food source for the mosquito. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Airman Kristina Dugan, 96th Aerospace Medicine Squadron public health technician, counts and logs mosquitoes July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The information gathered from catching mosquitoes establishes baseline catch counts for several base locations. This helps the 96th Civil Engineer Group’s Pest Management Division determine the effectiveness of their mosquito control methods. The information is also shared with local and state health authorities. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Airman Tayler Gottschalk, a 919th Special Operations Medical Squadron reservist, affixes a container to a trap near Post’l Point July 20 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. This permanently mounted trap is used to catch the general mosquito population. It is powered by electricity and runs for days to provide historical data. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ilka Cole)

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Mosquito hunters

Published Aug. 2, 2016