Why do Mosquitoes/Midges bite Humans?
Carbon Dioxide
In recent years, scientists have established that blood sucking insects are attracted to their blood meal by carbon dioxide. Humans & animals exhale carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide released mainly from the breath but also from the skin serve as a long distance airborne attractant and can be detected by biting insects at distances of up to 36 meters.
Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is produced as a result of vertebrate muscle metabolism, and is released through human & animal perspiration, Mosquitoes have chemoreceptors on their antennae that are stimulated by the sent of acid. Although humans can not smell it biting insects find it irresistible.
Octenol
Octenol is produced from human & animal breath. Biting insects also find octenol irresistible.
Heat & moisture
At close range, skin temperature & moisture act as an attractant. It’s the female mosquito & midge that bite. Its been known for many years that the female will be attracted to a source of heat via infra- red radiation, in particular warm moisture.
Spectrum & Ultravoilet light
Adult insects possess both compound eyes & ocelli. Compound eyes are used for navigation & sensing movement, patterns, contrast & colour, while ocelli are believed to sense light levels. Research has found that the retina of the compound eye in differing species of flying insects is sensitive to differing wave lengths of light.
About the trap
The trap does not involve fogging, pesticides, bug zappers or any repellents.
Remember carbon dioxide, octenol & lactic acid are produced by humans & animals and unlike many other products the trap is environmentally friendly & is safe to use indoors & out doors.
How does the trap work?
Mosquitoes & midges can easily locate where a person is by sensing carbon dioxide, temperature, near ultraviolet rays, lactic acid & octenol. The trap produces carbon dioxide by using UV light radiated across a titanium dioxide coating located inside the trap, lactic acid & octenol lures are also located inside the trap. The mosquitoes & midges are attracted to the trap as they get close a powerful fan located inside the trap sucks them into a catchment area, the force of the fan does not allow them to fly back out and they dry out & die. The trap attracts biting insects from as far as the light can be seen.
Mosquitoes
Mosquitoes carry some nasty diseases that can cause major health problems. It’s the female that bites and spreads the diseases. Depending on the wind mosquitoes generally stay close to where they lay their eggs. Mosquitoes need to lay their eggs in stagnant water, in pot plants, ponds, puddles etc. A female mosquito can be responsible for thousands of off spring, so remember every mosquito you catch in the interceptor trap stops thousands of mosquitoes from being born. Mosquitoes will rest during the day in dark places, under plants, decks, inside houses etc. Placement of the trap is important, check for mosquitoes during the day, gardens, under decks etc & place the trap near this area. Leave the trap on 24 hours a day 7 days a week & clean the trap weekly, after 2 to 4 weeks you should notice a large reduction in mosquito numbers
Midges
Midges do not carry diseases, they are annoying & there bites can be painful. The female bites & sucks blood to give her eggs nourishment. Midges lay there eggs in leaf litter, muddy & damp soil & sand. Depending on the wind midges also stay close to where they lay there eggs. A female midge can be responsible for thousands of offspring, so like mosquitoes every midge you catch in the interceptor trap stops thousands from being born. Midges like wet soil, grass, gardens & like mosquitoes dark areas, place the trap near the area of most activity. Midge populations are in plague proportion at the moment, this is due to to breeding conditions & heavy winds in most areas, Midge population is harder to control than mosquitoes so an extra trap may be required.
|
