Catch Mosquitoes With Dry Ice
Dry
ice increases the "catch" of mosquito traps by attracting four to five times
as many mosquitoes as just the light source used as the attractant in most
traps. Scientists have found that carbon dioxide exhaled from mammals
by breathing is what attracts mosquitoes hunting something to bite. According to the New Jersey Mosquito Control
Association, a five-pound block of dry ice will simulate the carbon
dioxide output of a large mammal in one dusk-to-dawn trapping period. The
trap should be hung six to eight feet from the ground with the dry
ice in a heavy cloth bag at about the same level as the trap. Some
research has recommended just using the dry ice without a light, as
trap bait, which was the practice among U.S. troops in the Vietnam
war. With the increased concern about West Nile Virus, mosquito
control around our homes and workplaces is much more important. Continental
Carbonic Products dry ice is sold from 29
locations.
