NEA Sets Gravitraps To Trap Mosquitoes, But They’re Attracting Smokers Who Need An Ashtray Instead

Public service announcement! Listen up people, this goes out to all my fellow commoners out there who’ve never heard of the term, Gravitrap.

But first, the oath. Repeat after me:

I swear upon the existence of my bloodline that I have yet to hear of this so-called Gravitrap. I do not, for a fact, know what it is or what it does. Heck, I don’t even know how it looks like. 

Okay, back to our regular programming.

What Are Gravitraps? 

Here’s a simple breakdown. This is a Gravitrap.

Gravitraps are the small black containers that you see along the corridors of HDB blocks and public areas. The following devices are used to trap female Aedes aegypti mosquitoes – the culprit for diseases like Dengue and Zika Virus.

Note that there will be an overuse of the word, Gravitrap. If I were you I would take a along the corridors of HDB blocks shot of water for every mention of it. Hydration is key, folks!

According to the National Environment Agency (NEA), the dark interior of a Gravitrap draws an adult Aedes mosquito to lay its eggs inside. What the Gravitrap does is – it traps the eggs. Which explains why it’s even called Gravitrap in the first place.

As of today, there are at least 50,000 Gravitraps islandwide.

Gravitraps Being Misused as Ashtrays 

On 16 November, ROADS.sg took to Facebook to deliver their own public service announcement.

The issue highlighted in the post was the misuse of Gravitraps. The mosquito traps were being used as ashtrays by smokers!

Good lord, the atrocity! 

It’s Not an Ashtray, People!

The Gravitrap is not an ashtray. Then again, maybe people are just misinformed. We’ll give it the benefit of doubt that it hasn’t really sunk in that these are dengue prevention tools.

Well, now you know!

The public is advised to avoid tampering with the Gravitraps. Leave them alone, guys! Misusing them would only lead to delays in finding solutions to tackle rampant cases of dengue.

So now that you know what a Gravitrap is – and that you’re hydrated –  you have all the reason to educate your friends, your family, and your neighbours. Remind them to stay clear of the Gravitraps!