Dubai: The civic body is expected to distribute eco-friendly mosquito traps to park-goers next week, with the aim of residents being able to replicate their own pesticide alternative.
Taleb Abdul Karim Julfar, Director of Public Parks and Horticulture Department at Dubai Municipality, explained that the idea behind the cheap and simple device is to use materials that are efficient against mosquitoes but at the same time, does not incorporate harmful chemical pesticides that can affect the public’s health and safety.
The organic alternative initiative comes at a crucial time as residents across the country are searching for healthier substitutes for toxic chemicals, after it was reported that an 11-year-old Iraqi girl died and her mother and brother were left in critical condition due to inhaling toxic pesticide.
“The device is comprised of an empty water bottle with a 1.5 litre capacity, 200 centilitres of warm water, 50 grams of sugar, one gram of bread yeast and a black plastic bag,” he said.
“The bottle-neck should be cut and filled with 200 millilitres of water, after dissolving 50 grams of sugar into it along with one gram (half a teaspoon) of bread yeast. The bottle neck should be placed inverted into the bottle, and the bottle should then be wrapped with the plastic bag,” explained Julfar, as mosquitoes are attracted to dark places.
The bottle should be then left in a corner of the room and the pestering mosquitoes will be trapped inside.
“The trap works as it produces carbon dioxide safely as the sugar interacts with the bread yeast, and this in turn can attract mosquitoes and other insects and bugs. It can be placed either outdoors near the rubbish bins or any corner in the house,” he said.
Julfar pointed out that the municipality uses empty recyclable bottle and is currently holding talks with a number of hotels to have more empty bottles donated to the programme.
Up till now, the Public Parks and Horticulture Department has a few hundred bottles, and will distribute them next week to all the frequently visited parks, including Creek Park, Zabeel Park, and Mushrif Park.
