Insecticidal sugar trap for biting midges (Culicoides sonorensis)

Insecticidal sugar baits for mosquitoes and house flies have demonstrated efficacy to reduce population numbers and consequently, disease transmission. The new insecticidal sugar trap (IST) is designed for the control of the disease vectoring biting midge around livestock and near larval/breeding habitats. This trap works by combining photoattraction by the use of light emitting diode (LED) technology and phagostimulation in the form of insecticidal sugar baits. The LEDs emit a specific ultraviolet wavelength which has been identified as a sugar feeding cue in Culicoides sonorensis. The photoattractive component of the trap is important because sugar water is odorless. Positive photoattraction elicited by the LEDs, draws sugar seeking C. sonorensis to the insecticidal sugar bait, of which can consist of various commercial insecticide formulations (pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, etc.) or non-toxic formulations (boric acid, garlic oil, etc.) that are lethal to Culicoides.

Insecticidal sugar trap advantages include: (1) The LED lights can be interchanged and specific to any pest insect species, not just biting midges, (2) oral insecticides can be easily changed to alternative insecticides with different modes of action to combat the evolution of insecticide resistance, (3) mechanical screening on the trap reduces non-target insect (bees, butterflies, moths) feeding, (4) targets male and female insects because both must feed on sugar, and (5) uses low energy LEDs and a solar panel to reduce trap maintenance to refilling sugar baits. Deployment of the IST is along perimeter fencing to protect livestock or located near larval/breeding sites to kill emerging adults.