ATTRACTION OF THREE MOSQUITO SPECIES TO UV LED LIGHT TRAPS

Abstract

Mosquito species display a wide variety of behaviors which complicate their ability to be readily surveyed for control purposes. Over time, different trapping devices have entered the market with varying degrees of success based on which species they were designed to survey. The most common of these surveillance methods are suction based light traps. Some mosquito species have shown little or no interest in light as an attractant. This study evaluated ultraviolet light emitting diodes in the 365 nm spectrum’s ability to attract male and non-blood-fed Anopheles quadrimaculatus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and male, non-blood fed female, and 1-, 2-, and 3-day post blood fed Aedes aegypti mosquitoes when compared to black light blue fluorescent bulbs and incandescent light installed in the same style of trap. Anopheles quadrimaculatus and Cx. quinquefasciatus showed little interest in the three light sources (=15% capture), but Ae. aegypti showed varying interest in the different lights. The UV LED light source attracted significantly more Ae. aegypti than incandescent light source in all, but the one assay conducted with the female 1-day post blood meal. The utilization of UV LED shows potential for improving the surveillance of Ae. aegypti mosquitoes. However, further field trials will be required to evaluate the effectiveness of these lights outdoors and in conjunction with host cues and other attractants.