Development of a trap for collecting newly emerged Ctenocephalides felis (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae) in homes.
The visible light spectra most attractive to cat fleas, Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché), were determined. A green-yellow filter with a transmittance spectrum centered at 515-nm and a 82.5-nm half-height width attracted significantly more fleas than any other filter or white light. This information and observations on this flea's behavior were used to design a trap with a green-yellow filter and a light source with a 10-min:5-s (on and off) cycle. This trap collected > 86% of the live fleas released into a carpeted room (3.1 by 3.3 m) during a 20-h test period, whereas each of three commercially available flea traps collected approximately 13% of the fleas. Fleas < 1 d after emergence were not as responsive to the traps as older fleas. During 20-h testing periods, this new trap caught > 57% of the fleas released 8.4 m from the trap.
Dryden
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Kansas State University, Manhattan 66506.
Broce
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D000818:Animals; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006798:Housing; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D008027:Light; D005423:Siphonaptera / Q000502:physiology