FIELD EVALUATION OF LURES AS CANDIDATE ATTRACTANTS FOR COASTAL CULICOIDES IN FLORIDA

Abstract

Biting midges (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae: Culicoides) along the coast of Florida are a severe biting nuisance that can impede outdoor activities. Methods currently available for biting midge control are limited due to environmentally sensitive larval habitats and the lack of adulticide techniques available for area-wide population suppression.
Homeowners that live along the coast can protect their homes with the use of fine- meshed window screens and fans, coarse low volume adulticide applications, and adult removal via commercial mosquito traps. There are known attractants that have been used to enhance trap captures for adult mosquitoes, and it is logical to test these attractants against closely related adult hematophagous Diptera such as Culicoides. This study compared four attractant lures, octenol, BG lure, R-octenol, and USDA red blend, known to be attractive to mosquitoes, and tested them against C. furens and C. mississippiensis as an addition to increase trap capture. Although all attractants increased trap capture above the control, results from this study could not identify a lure that was significantly more attractive to Culicoides species captured in Cedar Key, Florida. Further studies evaluating species specific trap types as well as attractants are needed to develop an effective Culicoides adult trapping control system as part of an integrated biting insect control program.