The guidelines for local vector control measures, defined in the National Plan for the prevention, surveillance and response to arboviruses (PNA) 2020-2025, focus on integrated mosquito control (in particular Aedes albopictus, or tiger mosquito, and Culex pipiens, or common mosquito) and other vectors, emphasizing environmental, chemical, and informative actions. For more information, consult the National Arboviruses Plan (PNA) 2020-2025, Chapter 2.3.3, "Local vector control measures" available in the "documents" section.

Private participation in monitoring and control activities is essential, as both scientific studies and field experience have widely demonstrated the effectiveness of this activity. It is well known that managing public spaces alone is not enough to contain the tiger mosquito. To avoid the nuisance and problems associated with high mosquito densities, every private citizen should implement the following measures: clean green spaces to avoid still water, and cover or treat non-removable water sources (e.g., catch basins) with larvicidal products (preferably biological ones and strictly according to the manufacturer's instructions). Furthermore, coordinating with neighbors is key to maximizing results. Adulticide treatments should be used only as a last resort in cases of extreme density to avoid releasing harmful substances into the environment and to prevent the development of insecticide resistance within the mosquito population. In parallel, citizen contributions have also become fundamental for tick monitoring, where the most effective strategy remains proper public education and bite prevention through thorough body checks. Since 2025, the mobile app Zeccapp has been available, allowing anyone to report ticks by sending a geolocated photo. This provides invaluable data for mapping the presence of these vectors across the region and improving public health prevention strategies.

Different data collection tools and strategies can be used depending on the objective of the sampling. The simplest trap used in monitoring is the ovitrap. This is a black plastic 250- or 500-cl vessel filled with water. A wood paddle is placed inside, which serves as a substrate on which the eggs are laid. An oviposition paper strip can be used as an alternative, wrapped around the vessel’s internal surface. The trap is placed in sheltered and shady areas and it takes advantage of the tiger mosquito's tendency to use small containers to deposit their eggs just above the surface of the water. The paddles are usually collected weekly or every 15 days. The seasonal mosquito density dynamics can be estimated from the egg count and number of positive ovitraps. The advantages of this sampling method include the low cost of the material used and the possibility to apply it mainly in public spaces. In addition, it can be managed by non-entomologist personnel after a brief training course.

To obtain vector density data or virological data, the most commonly used instruments are the BG-Sentinel® (A) and the CDC light-trap (B). The BG-Sentinel®, designed to capture adult mosquitoes, is a cylinder 40 cm high and 35 cm in diameter. It takes advantage of the preference of adult mosquitoes for black body cavities and also mimics human skin scent to attract them. Its effectiveness can be increased by adding a container of dry ice, which produces carbon dioxide through sublimation. The mosquitoes are collected in a catch bag inside the trap through the suction fan (mains- or battery-powered). The BG-Sentinel® trap should be placed in shady areas, sheltered from wind and rain.

The CDC-light trap consists of a suction system made up of a dry ice container placed above a cylinder which has a top opening to allow the mosquitoes to enter. It has a fan on the opposite side of the cylinder (to push the mosquitoes inside the bottom bag), powered with an electric motor. Dry ice is the attractant, dissipated into CO2 by sublimation. Preferably, it should be placed at a height of 1½ metres. Given the trap’s high cost, it is best to place them in private or limited access areas so they are less prone to vandalism or theft. This type of monitoring is best left to qualified entomologists.

Another method to assess the presence of mosquitoes is that of inspecting possible ideal breeding sites for larvae. In this case, too, it is better to leave the sampling to expert personnel, who inspect possible breeding sites and collect the larvae, if any, manually. Collected larvae are taken to the laboratory for identification or allowed to develop in order to identify the adults.