Many important endemic and emerging diseases are transmitted by vectorsthat are biting arthropods. The functional traits of vectors can affect pathogen transmission ratesdirectly andalso through their effect on vector population dynamics. Increasing empirical evidence shows that vector traits vary significantlyacross individuals, populations, and environmental conditions, andat time scales relevant to disease transmission dynamics. Here, we review empirical evidence for variation invector traits and how this trait variation is currentlyincorporated into mathematical modelsof vector-borne disease transmission. We argue that mechanistically incorporating trait variationinto these models, by explicitly capturingits effects on vector fitness and abundance, can improve the reliability oftheir predictions in a changing world. We provide a conceptual framework for incorporating trait variation into vector-borne disease transmission models,and highlight key empirical and theoretical challenges.This framework provides a means to conceptualize how traits can be incorporated in Vector Borne Disease systems,and identifies key areas in which trait variation can be explored. Determining when and to what extent it is important to incorporate trait variation into vector borne disease models remainsan important, outstanding question.