Mosquito Toilet' Discovers New Viruses in Backyard

A Rutgers scientist built what he calls a "mosquito toilet" in his New Jersey backyard and discovered viruses nobody knew existed there.

Dana Price, an entomologist at Rutgers University's Center for Vector Biology, got the idea from COVID wastewater monitoring. If tracking human waste helps spot diseases early, why not do the same for mosquitoes that spread West Nile, Zika, and dengue?

Price and his team designed a simple 3D-printed funnel that collected waste from mosquitoes in a New Brunswick yard for just over a year. The results, published in Microbiology Spectrum, surprised even the researchers.

They found genetic evidence of West Nile virus, known parasites, and something completely unexpected: Hedwig-like viruses. These rare viruses had only been discovered in snowy owls in Europe and are named after Harry Potter's beloved pet.

"We didn't even look for it specifically," Price said in a press release. "We just looked for everything, and we found Hedwig in there." He's now working with New Jersey wildlife officials to test recently deceased birds for the virus.

The discovery highlights something remarkable about disease surveillance. "If you don't look for it, you won't find it," Price explained. "But what if you don't know what to look for?"

Why This Inspires

This backyard experiment proves that innovative thinking doesn't require expensive equipment or fancy labs. A simple 3D-printed funnel answered questions scientists hadn't even thought to ask yet.

The research revealed entire viral genomes and "undescribed viruses" hiding in plain sight. Price believes these findings suggest that viruses and other microorganisms are far more widespread than anyone realizes.

"The more data we generate, the more we start to wonder if everything is everywhere," he said. While scientists don't yet know exactly how much is out there, it's likely "a lot more than we realize."

The ultimate goal is creating monitoring devices that can test mosquito waste in real time and alert public health officials to emerging threats. Instead of waiting for people to get sick, communities could spot dangerous viruses early and take action.

This low-tech solution could become an early warning system that protects millions of people from mosquito-borne diseases worldwide.