Laboratory and Field Performance of Five Cost-Effective Commercial Light Traps for Capturing Mosquitoes In China

Abstract

BackgroundMosquito traps for household use are popular because they are small, cost-effective, user friendly, and environmentally friendly. At present, there are many variations and specifications of mosquito traps intended for household use on the market. Their labels claim they are powerful, but research and evaluation of their claims is lacking.MethodsThis article tested the key parameters, the laboratory capture rate, and the greenhouse field capture rate of 5 popular mosquito traps intended for household use,and compared them with the BG-trap, used by professionals to monitor mosquitoes in the field.ResultsThe study found that the wavelength of 395–400 nm had a better capture rate for Culex quinquefasciatus. In the laboratory experiment, the capture rate was between 34.7%-65.0%. The analysis showed that the total radiance, fan speed, and design of the air guide of the traps are important factors that affect the mosquito catch rate. Field tests in the greenhouse found that the 5 mosquito traps had low catch rates for Aedes albopictus. The average percentage of Cx. quinquefasciatus, Ae. albopictus, Anopheles Sinensis, and other flying insects captured every night was 51.76%, 25.29%, 14.12%, and 8.82%. There was no significant difference in the capture rate of Ae. albopictus by the 5 mosquito traps in the greenhouse, while the mosquito species captured during the same period by the human landing catch method were all Ae. albopictus, suggesting that the dominant species of mosquitoes in the greenhouse was Ae. albopictus. The comparison experiment of mosquito trap 5, with the highest capture rate in the laboratory simulation and greenhouse site, and the BG-trap in the morning, afternoon, and night showed that the capture rate of the BG-trap on Ae. albopictus and Cx. quinquefasciatus was higher than that of mosquito trap 5. Combined with the results of the human landing catch method during the same period, it showed that the BG-trap can more accurately reflect the composition of the mosquito community.ConclusionsAccording to this study, it is suggested that the current 395–400 nm wavelength mosquito traps are not suitable for mosquito control measures in the domestic indoor environment where Ae. albopictus is the dominant species. The mosquito traps intended for household use can be improved by increasing the fan speed and optimizing the air guide. With a higher catch rate, the BG-trap is more suitable for mosquito monitoring than the UV-trap.