A Portable Light Trap for Culicoides Spp. (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae)

Abstract

The design of a portable light trap for adult Culicoides spp. is given.Light traps were required to sample small areas in a mangrove swamp for adult Culicoides spp. Various commercial designs were investigated, but problems were encountered with cost, size (portability), source of power (operation), effectiveness, and theft when left overnight. Therefore inexpensive traps, (cost and operation), were constructed to our own design (Fig. 1).The top of the trap consisted of an inverted metal food plate, 24 cm in diam., which acted as a protective hood and encased a plastic battery pack. A removable metal brace, with attached rivetted lamp socket and connecting wires supported the pack beneath the plate. A transparent plastic container, 14 cm in diaa.(400 mL), was suspended underneath by detachable metal clips.The battery pack, containing 3 'D' size alkaline dry cells (1 SV) in series, was inserted between the plate and metal brace, bolted into place, and wires from the socket connected to the terminals. A 3.2 V lamp (General Electric No. 42) was secured in the socket just enough to hold it in place. The plastic container was hooked beneath the plate and filled to about two-thirds capacity with 80% ethyl alcohol. The trap became operational by tightening the lamp until electrical connection was made. The 3 cells gave maximum illumination for 1 night (about 12 h). Adult Culicoides, and other small flying insects, flew about the lamp and were captured (drowned) when contact was made with the alcohol. The purpose of the traps was to indicate the spatial distribution of adult Culicoides in the swamp. Seven different species of Culicoides (both sexes) were taken by trapping over successive periods in various habitats. Although the traps were not constructed to capture large numbers (hence the lack of a fan), 1 trap in 1 night yielded 383 adult Culicoides. Metal brace SockelLamp (3 2VI

Habitats of Culicoides spp. in an intertidal zone of southeast Queensland, Australia

“…Adult sampling. Light traps of an original design (Hagan & Graff, 1989), were used to indicate which Culicoides species were present in various habitats. The traps were set at dusk, in mangroves (random locations), about 2 m from the ground, and collected the following morning.…”