Virtual Scavenger Hunt

This event is an insect/vector-themed scavenger hunt with most items related to mosquito control activities.

All proceeds go to the VMCA SCC to fund student awards for the annual poster competition.

Only $5 gets you into the hunt!

Open to anyone, VMCA member or not. Anyone who wants to support the SCC is welcome to play.

Committee members may play but are ineligible to win since they have advance access to the item list and may be a member of the judging panel.

Bragging rights

winner featured on VMCA Website and in The Skeeter newsletter

Free Lunch

$20 gift card to winner's choice of restaurant

Vector swag bag

vector-themed goodies

Prizes can be claimed at Suffolk Mosquito Control or mailed to winner.

• Sign up by May 30th (Link below)
  • Venmo SCC Chair Karen Akaratovic @KarenIAkaratovic or bring cash/check to VMCA Treasurer Jay Kiser at Suffolk Mosquito Control, 800 Carolina Road, Suffolk VA 23434; email virginiamosquito@gmail.com if you prefer an invoice
  • Sign-up after the deadline is allowed, but note scoring below.
• Weekly Sunday email will be sent from SCC Chair Karen Akaratovic (kakaratovic@suffolkva.us) to participants and posted on this page. 
• Players have until the following Sunday to find the item of the week (for full points).
• Submit your photo of the weekly item (with explanation, if applicable for bonus points) by the following Sunday at 11:59PM ET. 
• Submission link will be in weekly email and is posted below for added convenience.
• First post – Sunday, May 31, 2026
• Last post – Sunday, August 23, 2026
• Final deadline for all submissions = Sunday, August 30, 2026 at 11:59PM ET

• Photo must clearly show the item (not blurry or out of focus).
• Photos that do not clearly show the item may not be awarded full points. Credit (half points, no points, etc.) will be given at judges’ discretion (blind panel of 3).
• All submissions must be your own, personally taken, current (taken during this event), original photos. All submissions may be verified via reverse image search tools for authenticity. Submissions found to be unoriginal or with altered metadata will be disqualified and no resubmission will be allowed. 
• Photo (that meets question qualifications) submitted within week of post = 13 points
• Qualified photo submitted after deadline = lose 1 point for each week late
• Bonus points (given at random) are only available during the week they are posted
  • For bonus points requiring identification of a specimen: if the specimen is not easily identifiable in the photo, the committee reserves the right to check the specimen or ask for additional photos.
• Person with the most points wins!

In the event of a tie, there will be a final item posted, applicable only to those tied for the win. First person to find this item and submit the qualifying photo, wins!

Feel free to reach out to SCC Chair Karen Akaratovic kakaratovic@suffolkva.us