Specimen Submissions

If you suspect you have a specimen that may be an exotic mosquito species, you need to call the Ministry of Health's National Mosquito Helpline: 0800 MOZZIE (0800 669943).
The call centre will direct you to the local Public Health Unit who may send a Health Protection Officer to pick up the specimen or ask you to drop it in to their nearest office.

Alternatively, if you don't suspect it's an exotic, but would like it identified, you can forward the specimen directly to our Wellington laboratory with details of where and when it was collected. There will be no charge for individual members of the public submitting specimens for identification. Click here for our address and contact details.

Dead or Alive Mosquito Specimens

Please note we can not receive live mosquito specimens, they need to be collected and frozen before submission.

1. Try to trap the mosquito inside a container, e.g. an ice-cream container. Avoid crushing it if possible.
2. Ensure the lid is firmly attached.
3. Place the container into the freezer for at least 30 minutes.
4. When ready to send or deliver, remove from freezer and place specimen into a small container, e.g. matchbox, film cannister, pill bottle.
5. Seal in an envelope and address to NZB Laboratory in Wellington.

Dead mosquito specimens can be placed directly into a small container and refrigerated until packaged for sending. They do not require freezing unless storing for more than a couple of days.

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