You bought a Biogents BG-Mosquitaire, set it up, and you are still getting bitten. Before you decide the trap does not work, know this: when a CO2 trap underperforms, it is almost never the trap. It is placement, CO2, or expectations. Here is the checklist we run at Austin properties, in order.
1. Make sure the CO2 is actually flowing
The single biggest reason a Biogents trap underperforms is no CO2 or too little CO2. The trap works far better with CO2 because CO2 is the primary cue mosquitoes use to find hosts.
- Confirm the regulator is open and the gauge shows pressure.
- Check the recommended flow rate on the regulator (the BG-Mosquitaire has a target rate).
- If the tank is empty or the valve is barely cracked, you are running an attractant-only trap, which catches a fraction of what a CO2 trap does.
2. Move it out of the wind
Mosquitoes follow a CO2 plume upwind toward the trap. Strong or shifting wind scatters that plume.
Place the trap in a wind-protected spot: near shrubs, a fence line, or the side of the house, not in the open middle of the yard.
3. Put it between the mosquitoes and you, not next to your patio
A common mistake is placing the trap right where people sit. You want to intercept mosquitoes before they reach you.
Position it in the shaded, humid areas where mosquitoes rest during the day (dense vegetation, low damp corners, under decks) and let it pull them away from your seating area.
4. Keep it in the shade
Direct Texas sun heats the trap and dries the area mosquitoes prefer. Shade also matches where mosquitoes actually rest. A shaded, slightly damp corner outperforms a sunny lawn spot every time.
5. Give it 2 to 8 weeks
A CO2 trap does not work like a spray. It reduces the population by continuously removing the females that bite and lay eggs.
- 1 to 2 weeks: you start noticing fewer bites.
- 6 to 8 weeks: the breeding cycle breaks and the population drops sharply.
If you have only run it a few days, it is working, you are just early.
6. Refresh the attractant
The BG-Sweetscent lure works with the CO2 to mimic human skin scent. Each pack lasts about 2 months. An expired lure quietly lowers your catch rate. Replace it on schedule.
7. Check for a breeding source you are fighting
If there is standing water on your property (a clogged gutter, a saucer under a plant, a tarp, a low spot that holds rain), tiger mosquitoes will breed faster than one trap can keep up. A bottle cap of water is enough. Dump or drain standing water and the trap catches up quickly.
Still not working? Get a second set of eyes
Most underperforming traps in Austin come down to placement and CO2, and both are easy to fix in person. If you have worked through this list and still see mosquitoes, a free on-site assessment usually solves it fast: we reposition the trap, verify the CO2 setup, tune the attractant, and point out breeding sources.
You do not have to have bought the trap from us. We service traps you already own.
Book a free assessment or call 512-560-4129. More on service for existing owners is on our Biogents and CO2 trap service page.