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

Abstract

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.