ARS | Publication request: House fly (Diptera: Muscidae) ultraviolet traps: Design affects attraction and capture

Submitted to: International Conference on Urban Pests
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: April 3, 2008
Publication Date: July 3, 2008
Citation: Hogsette, J.A. 2008. House fly (Diptera: Muscidae) ultraviolet light traps: Design affects attraction and capture. Proceedings of the International Congress of Urban Pests, Budapest, Hungary, p. 193-196.

Interpretive Summary: Ultraviolet light traps for house fly management come in many shapes and sizes, however the main attractant to these traps is the light produced by the fluorescent tubes. Some traps have open fronts with little or no obstruction to the lights. Other traps have something in front of the lights that does not permit all of the light to shine directly into the room. Black light and black light blue lights are used as sources of attraction and pheromones, usually some form of z-9-tricosene, are used on the glue boards as an additional attractant. To determine the effects of some of the different trap components, scientists at the USDA Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL, conducted a laboratory evaluation. Traps with black light tubes attracted and captured significantly more flies that those with black light blue tubes. Black light tubes increased the catch significantly in traps with open fronts but black light blue tubes did not. Glue boards with pheromone did not influence fly catch in either housing type when black light blue tubes were used. However in traps with closed fronts and black light tubes, the fly catch was numerically higher with glue boards with pheromone.

Technical Abstract: Efficacy of ultraviolet light traps with open and closed fronts was compared when traps were fitted with black light or black light blue fluorescent tubes and glue boards with or without a commercial pheromone. Traps with black light tubes attracted and captured significantly more flies that those with black light blue tubes. Black light tubes increased the catch significantly in traps with open fronts but black light blue tubes did not. Glue boards with pheromone did not influence fly catch in either housing type when black light blue tubes were used. However in traps with closed fronts and black light tubes, the fly catch was numerically higher with glue boards with pheromone.