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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Gainesville, Florida » Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology » Mosquito and Fly Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #231944
Title: Response of adult mosquitoes to light emitting diodes placed in resting boxes and in the field.

Author
item BENTLEY, MICHAEL - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item KAUFMAN, PHILLIP - UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA
item Kline, Daniel - Dan
item Hogsette, Jerome - Jerry

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/19/2009
Publication Date: 10/30/2009
Citation: Bentley, M.T., Kaufman, P.E., Kline, D.L., Hogsette, J.A. 2009. Response of adult mosquitoes to light-emitting diodes placed in resting boxes and in the field. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 25(3):285-291.

Interpretive Summary: The resting behavior of many mosquito species is well known, and resting boxes are designed to simulate resting sites and capture mosquitoes that enter. Resting boxes are passive devices and mosquitoes that enter are those seeking shelter. Recent work showed the attraction of mosquitoes to light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Therefore, scientists from the USDA-CMAVE worked cooperatively with scientists from the University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, to improve the efficacy of resting boxes by fitting them with LEDs producing blue (470 nm), green (502 nm), red (660 nm), and Infra Red (860 nm) light. Nearly half of mosquitoes were captured in resting boxes with green LEDs. Resting boxes without LEDs captured 22% of the mosquitoes but the least number (16.7%) of mosquitoes was collected in boxes with blue LEDs.

Technical Abstract: Resting boxes are passive devices used to attract and capture mosquitoes seeking shelter. Increasing the attractiveness of these devices could improve their effectiveness. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) can be attractive to mosquitoes when used together with other trapping devices. Therefore resting boxes were fitted with LEDs producing blue (470 nm), green (502 nm), red (660 nm), and Infra Red (860 nm) light to determine if trapping efficacy could be increased. Nearly half of mosquitoes were attracted to resting boxes with green LEDs. Resting boxes without LEDs captured 22% of the mosquitoes but the least number (16.7%) of mosquitoes was collected in boxes with blue LEDs.