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Mosquito & Biting
Fly Traps
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Traps use carbon dioxide and UV light -
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Summary: Mosquito and biting fly
traps use a combination of carbon dioxide,
body odors and UV iight to attract
and capture these biting pests. Traps can be
effective where mosquito populations are high but
the traps are relatively expensive and require a
fair amount of maintenance.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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The new mosquito
traps work by luring adult mosquitoes, black
flies and other biting flies, into a trap with a
combination of carbon dioxide, animal odors and/or
UV light. The artificially generated odors are the
same as those that adult female mosquitoes, the
stage that bites, use to locate a host animal and
meal.
How do mosquito traps
work?
From a long distance
biting flies and mosquitoes use sight to find their
hosts honing in on large dark silhouettes. But, from
shorter distances they use odor. Because all of us
exhale carbon dioxide these insects "smell"
carbon dioxide to locate a host. At very close range
mosquitoes and biting flies may use the odor of
animal sweat which contains the chemical octenol.
Some of the new traps also use UV light to enhance
the trap's effectiveness.
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Mosquito
traps target adult mosquitoes (left
side and top views)
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Mosquito traps produce
carbon dioxide gas by burning propane in a device that
looks a bit like a one-burner gas grill. Many traps
use artificial octenol lures that should be replaced
on schedule and a UV light source may be installed as
well.
Using mosquito traps
You should place your
trap well away from human activity because the traps
will actually increase mosquitoes and other biting
flies in the immediate area of the traps if they
are working properly. Because of this some traps have
their own power source while others require a long
extension cord.
Over time traps will
reduce the number of certain biting pests in your yard
especially if populations are high. Don't expect
miracles because no device will eliminate all and some
species may not be effectively reduced. These new
traps are, however, preferable to blacklight ("bug
zapper") type traps because they don't attract and
kill beneficial species. See Related Articles
below.
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Mosquito traps may not
be for everyone
Traps have several
characteristics that may discourage many people from
using them. First, they are relatively expensive
to purchase and require regular maintenance,
which is an ongoing expense. They won't work in all
situations for all species of biting pests so test in
your area if possible. On the other hand, if biting
mosquitoes and/or black flies are preventing use of
your property they may be worth a try. Be sure to try
larval control first and use mosquito repellents
appropriately (see How to
Control Mosquito Larvae and Using
Insect Repellents).
What are Black
Flies?
Using Black Light "Bug
Zapper" Traps
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Mission: To
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for solving common insect and mite problems around
your home, business and landscape using least-toxic
methods.
Jack DeAngelis,
Ph.D.
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