Insect trap
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Insect traps can be used to monitor or directly reduce insect populations. They typically use a food, visual lures, chemical attractants and pheromones that do not injure other animals or humans or result in residues on foods or feeds. Visual lures use light, bright colors and shapes to attract pests. Chemical attractants or pheromones are the substances female insects use to sexually attract males to them. Insect traps can be used in an environmentally sound manner in pest management programs instead of pesticides. No insecticides need to be used and beneficial insects rarely become trapped.
Insect traps can be used to determine when pests emerge, how many there are and where they are coming from. The sooner this information is understood, the easier it is to control pests with other measures.
In many cases traps alone have been shown to control pest populations below levels of economic damage.
Flies and wasps are attracted by proteins. Mosquitoes and many other insects are attracted by bright colors, carbon dioxide, lactic acid, floral or fruity fragrances, warmth, and moisture and pheromones.
[edit] See also
[edit] External references
- Insect Attractants and TrapsR. Weinzierl, T. Henn, P. G. Koehler and C. L. Tucker University of Florida IFAS Extension
- Insect Traps in Conservation Surveys Dale Paul Kronkright waac Newsletter Volume 13, Number 1, Jan. 1991, pp.21-23
