ARS | Publication request: Evaluation of lurex 3tm, octenol, and CO2 Sachet as baits in mosquito magnet pro traps against floodwater mosquitoes.

Submitted to: Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 15, 2010
Publication Date: October 15, 2010
Citation: Xue, R., Qualls, W.A., Kline, D.L., Zhao, T. 2010. Evaluation of lurex 3tm, octenol, and CO2 Sachet as baits in mosquito magnet pro traps against floodwater mosquitoes. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association. 26(3):344-345.

Interpretive Summary: Traps baited with attractants are major tools for the surveillance and control of adult mosquito populations. In this study three different kinds of attractants were evaluated against container inhabiting and flood water species of mosquitoes. The attractants tested were 1-octen-3-ol (an unsaturated alcohol), Lurex3 (a mixture of lactic acid and ammonia) and a sachet containing 2 chemical powders, which are mixed to slowly release carbon dioxide. Results indicated that octenol enhances collections of the flood water species and Lurex3 the container inhabiting mosquitoes. The use of the carbon dioxide producing sachets did not increase the collections of either the container inhabiting or the flood water mosquitoes. The study was conducted in St. Johns County, Florida. This study was a collaborative effort among scientists of the Anatasia Mosquito Control District, St. Augustine, Florida; USDA, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, Florida; and Department of Vector Biology and Control, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing, China.

Technical Abstract: Field evaluation of Lurex3™, octenol, and CO2 sachet as baits in Mosquito Magnet® Pro traps (MMP) for collecting adult mosquitoes was conducted at 2 different locations in northeast Florida. A total of 18 species of mosquitoes was collected by the MMP baited with three kinds of attractants in St. Augustine, Florida. The MMP baited with octenol collected significantly more mosquitoes than the traps baited with Lurex3™ and CO2 sachet. A total of six flood water mosquito species was collected by the MMP baited with 3 kinds of attractants in Elkton, Florida. The MMP baited with Lurex3 or octenol collected more mosquitoes than the MMP baited with a CO2 sachet or MMP alone.