Electrocuting and electronic insect traps: Trapping efficiency and production of airborne particles

Abstract

Five electrocuting insect traps were evaluated for their efficiency in eliminating house flies and moths from small premises, and for their production of insect fragments and airborne particles. An electronic trap which kills attracted insects by trapping them on a sticky surface was also included in the study. Airborne particles from the vicinity of traps in operation were collected on microporous filters. All traps performed equally in killing flies and moths. Although numerous moth scales were collected in the air filtrates when the moths were released in the rooms while all traps were off, their numbers increased when traps were turned on. The number of scale fragments significantly increased when electrocuting traps were used, but not with the electronic trap. Numerous spherical particles (diam. < 10 μm) were also collected in air filtrates near electrocuting traps killing moths. In addition to elements found in moths (Ρ, Κ, Cl, S, Si), particles contained one or more of the metals Zn, Fe, and Cu. The metals in these particles and observed changes of the surface of used grid wires indicated that these spherical particles probably are solidified haemolymph and other body fluids, expelled from the moths as they are heated during electrocution. The generation of airborne particles is important because, in addition to the concerns for food contamination, most insect particles are potential allergens.

Regulatory Action Criteria for Filth and Other Extraneous Materials

“…The typical muscoid adult has been demonstrated to transmit pathogens on the sponging mouthparts, through vomitus, on body and leg hairs, on the sticky pads of the feet, and through the intesti-nal tract (Radvan, 1960). It has been demonstrated that the microorganisms on a fly's body are disseminated by direct contact Sramova et al, 1992;Richards et al, 1961;Paraluppi et al, 1996;Greenberg, 1964;Echeverria et al, 1983;De Capito, 1963;Bolanos, 1959;Akinbode et al, 1989;Khin et al, 1989), in fly feces (Greenberg et al, 1970), and through the air for short distances from insectelectrocuting traps (Pickens, 1989;Broce, 1993;Tesch and Goodman, 1995;Ananth et al, 1992).…”

Managing the Horn Fly (Diptera: Muscidae) Using an Electric Walk-Through Fly Trap

“…In the current study routine trap cleaning was performed once at the beginning of the second ßy season. Although the trap is self-cleaning, ßying insects destroyed by electrocution create insect debris and airborne particles that may contribute to the spread of pathogens or allergens (Broce 1993).…”

House Flies Are Underappreciated Yet Important Reservoirs and Vectors of Microbial Threats to Animal and Human Health

“…Electrocuting insect traps (EIT) have been used as an alternative to pesticides for house flies, especially in areas such as restaurants and human dwellings. Such traps cause fly body particulates to scatter around the trap [ 93 ], contaminating nearby areas, or aerosolize as a respirable particle size after electrocution [ 94 , 95 ]. Microbes associated with insect debris and microbial aerosols could be distributed by the electrocution of flies in both high- and low-voltage light traps [ 96 ], with a majority of aerosolized microbes at a size capable of penetrating the lung alveoli.…”