Jeddah: For the first time in the MENA region, a collaborative research team from King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) and the University of Melbourne, Australia, succeeded in developing a study that uses environmentally friendly smart biological traps to help lower dengue fever-transmitting mosquito populations in Jeddah's arid, high-temperature, low-rainfall areas. This program is a part of KACST's continuous endeavors to combat vector-borne diseases by utilizing cutting-edge, sustainable, and efficient technologies.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the study was based on developing a strategy employing an experimental field design that simulates the hot and arid urban environments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It used "In2Care" smart traps, which are an advanced, eco-friendly system integrating two dual and safe mechanisms: one acts as an insect growth regulator to prevent larvae from maturing into mosquitoes, while the other targets and eliminates adult mosquitoes. These traps are connected to digital monitoring tools and artificial intelligence systems to enable intelligent and automated control.
The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the smart trap systems for mosquito control under the climatic conditions of Jeddah, to assess their efficiency in reducing mosquito breeding, and to explore their potential as sustainable alternatives to chemical insecticide-based programs.
Without any new adult mosquitoes emerging from the treated sites, the field tests proved that this technology was effective and successful in completely stopping mosquito reproduction and spread, demonstrating its powerful and long-lasting effects.
Due to its scientific significance in advancing study on combating mosquito-borne diseases, the study has attracted considerable attention from the international study community and has been featured on the cover of the 2025 Journal of Medical Entomology, published by Oxford University Press.
Through the outcomes of this successful study, KACST seeks to open future horizons for expanding the scope of application of these smart traps by integrating them with the existing Wolbachia-based mosquito strategy to achieve rapid and effective combined results in reducing the spread of dengue fever in Jeddah. The full study is available at:
This study is part of the efforts of KACST's National Laboratory to develop sustainable and eco-friendly biotechnologies aimed at protecting public health and promoting environmental sustainability. These efforts align with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 and fulfill the national aspirations for research, development, and innovation, which prioritize human health by supporting qualitative research, developing medical and biological technologies that contribute to disease prevention, enhance quality of life, and establish a sustainable health system based on knowledge and innovation.