Recently, our housing estate was infected with mosquito due to the
non- work schedule at a
nearby construction site.So, i bought three unit electric mosquito &
insect killer to help erodicate the problem. Although i switched on
throughout the night, not a single mosquito was caught.My bare hands
could do a much better job !
Is the UV-A ray effective to attract the mosquito and are the ray
harmful to us ? Would like some suggestion and advice, Thanks.
Back around early 1978 or so, I made a homebrew bugzapper and tried
different lamps in it.
My findings:
1. Best fluorescent lamp was "blue", as in /B color code, mainly
available in 20 watt and 40 watt, 2-foot/4-foot, T12 (1.5 inch diameter)
sizes. BLB and BL did not work as well, with BLB being the worse of those
two. Somehow I suspect wider bandwidth and color like that of sky help,
although including UV with this probably helps. Maybe 05 actinic will do
well, but selection of sizes could be very limited.
2. Fluorescent lamps appeared to me in my tests to attract insects better
if they are fed filtered DC (or maybe AC of very high frequency). I have
heard a bit that insects actually see 120 Hz flicker.
Keep in mind that one needs a resistor in series with a fluorescent lamp
with DC. In addition, an inductor in series with the resistor helps if
you use the "preheat" starting method.
3. Mosquitoes are not that phototropic. The main lure of the particular
ones that bite are the scent of CO2 and maybe in combination with
perspiration scent and maybe with some sensation of warmth - that is how
biting mosquitoes find their prey. And, only the females bite.
Light/UV does a better job of attracting a fair number of other insects
- including ones that attract natural enemies of mosquitoes. I suspect
you don't want mosquito enemies in your immediate neighborhood to find
your immediate neighborhood low on food!
- Don Klipstein (
[email protected])