One of the four mosquito-catching machines installed at the Huangbeiling Park, offering a biomimetic alternative to traditional pesticide spraying. File photo

Four “Tuntianwa” mosquito-catching machines have been installed at the Huangbeiling Park in Luohu, replacing traditional pesticide spraying with a physical, biomimetic approach.

The park’s dense trees and shrubs provide welcome shade, but have also made it a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Previously, community workers regularly sprayed vegetation, cleared water-holding containers after rain and, when mosquito numbers were high, temporarily cordoned off some areas. Spraying, however, can leave chemical residues and strong odors, and may be unsuitable for older people, children and pets in a public park.

One of the new machines runs along the park’s walking path, where blue-purple lights glow as a screen displays its catch count and the temperature. Park staff said one unit installed on a hillside had caught more than 700 mosquitoes in a single day.

The machines use no insecticide. They mimic human breathing by releasing carbon dioxide and warm, humid airflow to attract mosquitoes from a distance. The insects are then drawn into the device by airflow and dried inside. A built-in display also provides mosquito-count and temperature and humidity data.

The equipment is connected to Huangbeiling Community’s smart sentinel system. At the community’s emergency management command center, staff can view the machines’ data in real time and monitor mosquito activity across the park. According to the system, a unit can catch up to 30,000 mosquitoes a day and cover an area of up to 200 square meters.

Pilot project draws positive feedback

“Because the park has dense vegetation and a good ecological environment, it has long been an area with a high incidence of mosquitoes. In the past, some sections even had to be cordoned off for mosquito prevention and control,” said Zhang Jiannan, director of the Smart Emergency Management Command Center of Huangbeiling Jingxuan Joint-Stock Co.

Since the machines were installed, mosquito-control efficiency has improved and the need for routine pest-control work has declined, easing the workload for community staff, Zhang said.

Nearby resident Ms. Dong, who visits the park almost every day, said she used to wear long sleeves and trousers to avoid being bitten. “Now it’s much better — I can wear short sleeves in the park. It seems the machine is really working hard,” she said.

A representative of Huangbeiling Jingxuan Joint-Stock Co. said the installation is a pilot project exploring how smart technology can support urban-village governance. The company will continue assessing the machines’ performance and adjust their locations based on residents’ feedback. It also plans to introduce more smart-governance tools, with the aim of improving public services and shifting community management toward decisions supported by data.