Field Evaluation of Mosquito Control Devices in Southern Louisiana

The effect of 2 mosquito traps and 2 repellent systems on the catch of adult mosquitoes in American Biophysics Corporation (ABC) light traps was evaluated over a 14-month period at 3 locations in Louisiana. Devices evaluated included 1) ABC Mosquito Magnet® with dry ice and octanol; 2) the BioSensory 500 cc Dragonfly® Biting Insect Trap with CO2, octenol, and Mosquito Cognito®, which uses ConcealTM inhibitor; 3) the SC Johnson OFF!® Mosquito Lantern; and 4) the ThermaCell® cordless mosquito repellent system. The number of adult mosquitoes caught in the ABC light traps, at the SC Johnson OFF!® Mosquito Lantern, and ThermaCell® cordless mosquito repellent treatment sites was significantly lower than the number collected at the ABC Mosquito Magnet or the Dragonfly/Mosquito Cognito trap system sites. When the 2 repellent devices were placed in combination with the ABC traps, mosquito numbers were significantly reduced when compared with sites with ABC traps alone. These data indicate that the SC Johnson OFF! Mosquito Lantern and ThermaCell cordless mosquito system may reduce attack from biting mosquitoes due to the reduction in their numbers. In the same study, the mosquito counts of the trapping devices also were reported.