Factors Affecting Capture Rates of Insect Taxa by Retail Electrocutors and Eliminators in Northern Lower Michigan

We compare the abundance and types of insects captured at several locations, with and without a chemical attractant and in varying weather conditions using two different devices advertised to kill biting insects. Using both an insect electrocutor that uses ultraviolet light as an attractant, with and without octenol as an added attractant, and an insect eliminator that uses carbon dioxide, heat and octenol as attractants, more non-biting than biting insects were captured. Numerous harmless and beneficial insects were killed with electrocutors. Although eliminators were more target-specific, they captured fewer insects overall compared to electrocutors. The numbers and types of insects captured also varied by location and temperature conditions. More insects were killed by electrocutors located next to a lake compared to those located in an inland forested area and more were killed at lower compared to higher heights above the ground. More insects were also killed by electrocutors on warmer than on cooler nights. More non-biting insects were killed with electrocutors baited with octenol than without octenol

Factors Affecting Capture Rates of Insect Taxa by Retail Electrocutors and Eliminators in Northern Lower Michigan

We compare the abundance and types of insects captured at several locations, with and without a chemical attractant and in varying weather conditions using two different devices advertised to kill biting insects. Using both an insect electrocutor that uses ultraviolet light as an attractant, with and without octenol as an added attractant, and an insect eliminator that uses carbon dioxide, heat and octenol as attractants, more non-biting than biting insects were captured. Numerous harmless and beneficial insects were killed with electrocutors. Although eliminators were more target-specific, they captured fewer insects overall compared to electrocutors. The numbers and types of insects captured also varied by location and temperature conditions. More insects were killed by electrocutors located next to a lake compared to those located in an inland forested area and more were killed at lower compared to higher heights above the ground. More insects were also killed by electrocutors on warmer than on cooler nights. More non-biting insects were killed with electrocutors baited with octenol than without octenol

A study comparing efficiency of insect capture between Stinger electric zapper and Mosquito-deleto at varying locations and heights in northern Michigan.

In the attempt to reduce biting insect populations, the general public has relied on many methods to kill mosquitoes and other biting insects. Presently, the most commonly used device, the electric zapper, utilizes ultraviolet light and electricity to lure and electrocute the targeted insects. Science has demonstrated that electric zappers do not catch as many biting insects as they claim; they also are harmful to beneficial, non-biting insects. A new, alternative technology uses carbon dioxide, heat, and octenol (a derivative of mammalian body odor) to attract biting insects. The study was run at two sites (a lakeside and a forested hilltop) in northern Michigan for five nights (20:00-23:00) with relatively similar weather. Two Stinger?zappers were raised to two feet and nine feet in order to compare heights, and one Mosquito DeletoTM was used to compare the insect lure methods. The experiment produced a total insect catch of 11, 078 insects; mainly from five predominate operational taxon units (Ichneumonidae, Noctuidae, Culicidae, Chironomidae, and Coleoptera). A relationship was shown to exist between total number of insects caught and each location, but height was shown as a significant variable (x2 = 759.17, df = 1, p <0.05) with preference towards the two-foot height. When location and height were combined as an inter-related factor, a significance factor could not be found. Although the Mosquito DeletoTM caught fewer total biting insects, its percent capture rate of biting insects was three times greater than the Stinger. Still, neither device was considered effective due to either ecological impacts (Stinger) or low number of biting insects caught (Mosquito Deleto). Regardless of treatments, we found that present technology is ineffective and neither the Stinger Electric Zapper nor the Mosquito Deleto work effectively.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/54969/1/3410.pdfDescription of 3410.pdf : Access restricted to on-site users at the U-M Biological Station