Field evaluation of colored light-emitting diodes as attractants for woodland mosquitoes and other diptera in north central Florida

Abstract

The attraction of mosquitoes to transmitted light from colored super-bright light-emitting diodes (LEDs) (100-nm bandwidth) was evaluated by comparison of capture numbers with and without carbon dioxide-baited (200 ml/min) Centers for Disease Control (CDC) traps. Traps with either colored LEDs or control lights were arranged in Latin square designs at 2 north central Florida woodland locations and checked daily during July and August 1996. When data were analyzed by species, a significant difference in attractivity of lights was found in some species. Aedes atlanticus, Aedes dupreei, Aedes infirmatus, Anopheles crucians s.l., Culiseta melanura, Culex nigripalpus, Psorophora columbiae, and Uranotaenia sapphirina showed significant color preferences. These results will have potential for use by ecologists, epidemiologists, and mosquito control personnel for improving collection efficiency of certain species of mosquitoes.