CO2 mosquito traps

[Anne Kilmer]

The geckos help, indoors. So do the spiders.
I imagine that the trap, like other traps, comes with advice to install
it well away from the areas you plan to use. 
I suppose it is also a preferred host ... I sit next to my red-headed
son, outdoors, because the mosquitoes like him best. 
In areas where mosquitoes are a serious problem (the tropics, for
instance) carrying many interesting diseases, I have no problem with
these traps. 
They're probably far less damaging to the environment than the mosquito
BT, for instance, which snuffs all diptera (I'm told) ... a friend of
mine suggested that it should be broadcast in all of South Florida's
canals and lakes, thus permanently removing the annoying creatures. 
I'd rather see us, in more temperate zones, putting up martin houses and
bat houses (despite their preference for leps), daubing ourselves with
citronella and burning citronella candles, putting screens in the
windows and spending our evenings inside.  
Doug, does your trap also attract blackflies, no-seeums, and other
people-biting critters? There's such a trap being used in South Florida,
baited with heat and CO2. Better than spraying the swamp, I guess. 
Anne Kilmer
South Florida


Nick Greatorex-Davies wrote:
> 
> Jim Mason wrote:   "Since they cost ~$400 each, (not counting the
> CO2-spiking apparatus) I doubt
> they will get popular any time soon.  I also wonder how they can be
> effective.  If you have a party in the yard and several people are
> present,
> the trap would just look like one more food source to the skeeters
> rather
> than THE ONLY food source.  I would say you are better off to put up
> a bat
> house, (if you have colonial-roosting bats in the neighborhood)."
> 
> I was recently in the Philippines and at one place I stayed there
> were flourescent strip lights in all the rooms and at various
> sheltered places aroud the building. I was amazed at the number of
> wall lizards (house geckos) there were with two, three or four at
> every light. No insect that came near stood a chance (except perhaps
> the larger cockroaches)! What a blessing they must be when mosquitos
> are plentiful!
> 
> Regards
> 
> Nick Greatoex-Davies