A Comparison of the Efficacy of Several Models of Mosquito Magnet Traps Baited with Lurex versus Commercially Available Traps Supplied with Octenol on the Collection of Mosquitoes in Oahu, Hawaii, Primarily Aedes albopictus, September 2004

In August and September of 2004, five commercially available mosquito traps were compared using a Latin square test design. The Mosquito Magnet Professional and Mosquito Magnet Liberty Plus, both utilizing Lurex as the secondary attractant, performed significantly better than all other traps tested for collecting Total Culicidae (p < 0.08). All Mosquito Magnet products utilizing Lurex collected significantly more Aedes albopictus than the Coleman MD2500 that used Octenol (p < 0.01). Mosquito traps have been used to monitor mosquito populations and to help in general research for over 50 years (Schreck et al. 1970). The traps that were typically used required an external power source and the use of a Carbon dioxide tank plus light and sometimes Octenol to attract mosquitoes (Kline 2002). Some species such as the Asian Tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, are extremely difficult to collect (Jensen et al. 1994). This mosquito also proved to be a relatively fast spreading, voracious daytime biter, making it one of the lead pest species in areas where it has established (Moore et al. 1988). This study was designed to compare the efficacy of a new mosquito attractant developed to specifically target Aedes albopictus. Five commercially available mosquito traps were evaluated in this study (Table 1). The testing was conducted in Oahu, Hawaii, in a local botanical garden. Individual trap sites were chosen that were approximately 80 meters apart. This spacing was designed to prevent trap interference and was based on trap coverage area claims. A basic Latin square design was implemented to evaluate the efficacies of the traps involved in testing. Each trap was randomly placed in one of the chosen sites on day one of testing. Each trap was put together and operated based upon manufacturers’ instructions found within the original trap boxes. Traps were rotated at 48 hour intervals, at approximately the same time each day.