Field evaluation of colored light-emitting diodes as attractants for woodland mosquitoes and other diptera in north central Florida

• Published in: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association Vol. 14; no. 2; p. 186
• Main Authors: Burkett, D.A, Butler, J.F, Kline, D.L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.06.1998
• Subjects: Aedes; Animals; Anopheles; ATRAYENTES; ATTRACTANTS; ATTRACTIF; BEHAVIOUR; BIOLOGICAL DIFFERENCES; CARBON DIOXIDE; CDC LIGHT TRAPS; COLOR; COLOR PREFERENCE; COLOUR; COMPORTAMIENTO; COMPORTEMENT; CONTROL DE INSECTOS; COULEUR; Culex; CULICIDAE; DIFERENCIAS BIOLOGICAS; DIFFERENCE BIOLOGIQUE; DIOXIDO DE CARBONO; DIOXYDE DE CARBONE; Diptera; EFFICACY; FLORIDA; FLORIDE; INSECT ATTRACTANTS; INSECT CONTROL; Insect Control - methods; Light; LIGHT TRAPS; LUTTE ANTIINSECTE; Mosquito Control - methods; PIEGE LUMINEUX; SPECIES DIFFERENCES; TRAMPAS DE LUZ; Florida
• ISSN: 8756-971X; 1943-6270

The attraction of mosquitoes to transmitted light from colored super-bright light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (100-nm bandwidth) was evaluated by comparison of capture numbers with and without carbon dioxide-baited (200 ml/min) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) traps. Traps with either colored LEDs or control lights were arranged in Latin square designs at 2 north central Florida woodland locations and checked daily during July and August 1996. When data were analyzed by species, a significant difference in attractivity of lights was found in some species. Aedes atlanticus, Aedes dupreei, Aedes infirmatus, Anopheles crucians s.l., Culiseta melanura, Culex nigripalpus, Psorophora columbiae, and Uranotaenia sapphirina showed significant color preferences. These results will have potential for use by ecologists, epidemiologists, and mosquito control personnel for improving collection efficiency of certain species of mosquitoes.