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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
light 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, however, that may discourage some people from
trying 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 in standing water such as ponds and fountains and
for personal protection against biting pests see Using Insect Repellents).
What are Black
Flies?
Using Black Light
"Bug Zapper" Traps
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