Contribution
Help our researchers and send us an observation!
How can I send a sample? There are 3+1 ways!
Did you take a photo of the mosquito? You can send us the photo in three ways: by this form, by email, or through the Mosquito Alert app!
However, it is important that the photo is of good quality and shows the dorsal part of the thorax (top view) and the lateral part of the legs and thorax/abdomen (side view).
Here are some examples:
+1: If you want to send in the mosquito itself, that is also possible.
If you do not want to use this form to send your sample, scroll down for more information!
Beküldés a weboldalon keresztül
Using the Mosquito Alert app
The easiest way to send photos of mosquitoes is to use the Mosquito Alert mobile app. Simply download the free, internationally developed app in English from the App Store or Google Play!
With the app, you can easily identify the species you have photographed and send the photos for further scientific processing in a matter of minutes. It is also helpful for us if you report breeding sites to our team or send data on the frequency of bites through the app. For each submission, you will receive confirmation of which species the mosquito belongs to, based on the expert’s opinion.
Submitting photos via email
If you choose to communicate via email, please send your photos as attachments to the following email address: szunyog@ecolres.hu. Emails are usually handled by our colleague Beáta Ujvárosi. It is important that you include written information about the circumstances of the collection along with the photos:
- name of the settlement, name of the geographical location or GPS coordinates
- data on the habitat (e.g. from a park, near a stream, etc.),
- the exact time the photo was taken (at least the day, but if known, please also include the hour and minute!)
Mosquito in an envelope: send us your mosquito!
We also accept mosquitoes sent by post with the information requested for sending images by email (and, if possible, your email address) to the following address:
Szúnyogmonitor program
HUN-REN Centre for Ecological Research, Institute of Ecology and Botany
H-2163 Vácrátót, Alkotmány Road 2-4.
Guidelines for proper packaging
First, try to catch the animal in a way that causes as little harm as possible: if possible, do not kill it, but rather catch it with a glass! If the specimen is still alive after capture, place it in the freezer for half an hour; it will be easier to take photos of an immobile animal.
Then place the mosquito in a plastic vial lined with a single layer of paper tissue. The vial should be small so that the mosquito cannot move around or break inside it. It is important to pack it so that the specimens do not touch the plastic (or the cap). The following photo guide will help you pack it correctly:
It is important to also record the circumstances of the collection:
- name of the settlement, name of the geographical location or GPS coordinates
- data on the habitat (e.g. from a park, beside a stream, etc.),
- the exact time of recording (at least the day, but if known, please also include the hour and minute!)