Field evaluation of colored light-emitting diodes as attractants for woodland mosquitoes and other diptera in north central Florida
Burkett, D.A.; Butler, J.F.; Kline, D.L.
Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association 14(2): 186-195
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 8756-971X PMID: 9673921 Document Number: 495146
The attraction of mosquitoes to transmitted light from coloured 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) CDC traps. Traps with either coloured LEDs or control lights were arranged in Latin square designs at 2 north central Florida, USA, woodland locations and checked daily during July and August 1996. When data were analysed by species, a significant difference in attractivity of lights was found in some species. Aedes atlanticus, A. dupreei, A. infirmatus, Anopheles crucians s.l., Culiseta melanura, Culex nigripalpus, Psorophora columbiae and Uranotaenia sapphirina showed significant colour preferences. These results will have potential for use by ecologists, epidemiologists and mosquito control personnel for improving collection efficiency of certain species of mosquitoes.