Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!timbuk!cs.umn.edu!msi-s0.msi.umn.edu!srcsip!sol.ctr.columbia.edu!samsung!rex!uflorida!mlb.semi.harris.com!thumper.mlb.semi.harris.com!jws From: jws@thumper.mlb.semi.harris.com (James W. Swonger) Newsgroups: sci.bio Subject: Attracting Biting Insects Summary: I want to (but not to me). Message-ID: <1990Sep28.131933.7173@mlb.semi.harris.com> Date: 28 Sep 90 13:19:33 GMT Sender: jws@thumper.mlb.semi.harris.com Organization: Harris Semiconductor, Melbourne FL Lines: 11 Nntp-Posting-Host: thumper.mlb.semi.harris.com I am interested in making a more effective bug attractor/killer which specifically attracts biting flies and mosquitos. The commercial ones with the UV light seem to attract moths and such but few mosquitos, judging by the body counts I get. Meanwhile the mosquitos seem to remain interested in me. Are there any entomologists out there who know the mechanisms by which the mosquitos and flies select their prey? Do they go for heat, smell, motion, some combination? If I can find out the things that attract them I might be able to devise a more selective and effective lure.