Mosquito Traps 101

Scientifically and independently tested around the world, Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have consistently outperformed other brands.

Sparked by the emergence of diseases in the U.S. like West Nile Virus and Dengue, consumer demand for mosquito control devices has increased along with the number of companies manufacturing mosquito traps.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have some impressive customer feedback, but even more convincing are the test results.

Mega-Catch™ in Malaysia

Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps were developed after an extensive worldwide testing program.  In early 2000 Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia was engaged to advise on and test Mega-Catch™ trap designs in South East Asia. One of the primary objectives was to develop a trap which would attract and capture the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a voracious daytime biter and vector of over 30 arboviruses including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Dengue fever.  Tests carried out in a reserve forest at Minden Campus, University Sains Malaysia in the Penang Island led Professor Yap Heng to conclude that Mega-Catch™ was effective against the Asian tiger mosquito in outdoor  conditions in tropical environments.

Mega-Catch™ in the U.S.

1.Mega-Catch™ out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Pro and Mosquito Magnet® Residential

In 2001 the Mega-Catch™ ULTRA and Mosquito Magnet® Pro and Residential traps were put to the test in central Florida by USDA research entomologist Dr Daniel Kline.  The test was conducted over about three weeks at three different locations; a laboratory, a yard in a residential neighborhood and in a wildlife refuge. The catch varied by location, but the overall result was that the Mega-Catch™ trap captured about twice the number of Aedes aegypti – the yellow fever mosquito – and a larger general variety of other mosquitoes than did the Mosquito Magnet®.

“The studies included in this report were my first opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of the Mega-Catch™ trap,” USDA research entomologist Dr. Daniel Kline wrote. “In most cases, whether baited with CO₂ or not, it caught more mosquitoes than either model of Mosquito Magnet®.”

2. Mega-Catch™ ULTRA out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Liberty, Flowtron®, Dragon Fly, Lentek™, Mosquito Deleto and SonicWeb™

Dr J P Smith (Ph.D., B.C.E. Florida A&M University), J Walsh and R Huss conducted a study in the summer and fall of 2002 on the campus of the John A. Mulrennan Sr., Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center (PHEREC) of Florida A&M University, comparing eight commercially available mosquito traps.

There were significant differences in the numbers and species caught among the eight traps. The Mega-Catch™ ULTRA trap and the Mosquito Magnet® Liberty captured 2.5X to almost 3X more mosquitoes than the next best trap, the Lentek™ mosquito trap and 4X to 6X more than the Mosquito Deleto, Flowtron® PowerTrap and the DragonFly. The SonicWeb™ collected considerably fewer mosquitoes than any of the other traps.

To view the original independent report click COMPARISON OF MOSQUITO SPECIES AND NUMBERS CAUGHT IN 8 COMMERCIAL MOSQUITO TRAPS to go to the Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center (PHEREC) of Florida A&M University website.

Mega-Catch™ in Australia
3. ULTRA out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Pro

A study conducted in tropical Far North Queensland, Australia (Feb, 2004) again compared the performance of the Mega-Catch™  ULTRA which uses a variable quantity slow CO₂ gas release system against the Mosquito Magnet® Pro which produces carbon dioxide via combustion of propane.

Performed by Dr. Scott A. Ritchie, Ph.D. (University of Florida) and Dr. Craig R. Williams, Ph.D. (University of South Australia) the study concluded that the Mega-Catch™ ULTRA caught roughly fifty percent more mosquitoes on average per day than the Mosquito Magnet® Pro.

“The Mega-Catch™ ULTRA Mosquito Trap was the best performing mosquito trap in this study. Its physical design, coupled with the presence of CO₂ and other chemical and thermal attractants, make it highly effective in catching mosquitoes.  In this particular context, it was more successful than the Mosquito Magnet® Pro, which is also a very effective mosquito trap,” stated Dr. Scott Ritchie, Ph.D. University of Florida.

4. Mega-Catch™ Premier & Alpha prototype out-catches Mosquito MagnetÒ Defender

A further study (March, 2004) by the same researchers compared the mosquito catching ability of a series of commercially available mosquito traps including the  Mega-Catch™ Premier, Mega-Catch™ Alpha (proto-type), Mosquito Magnet® Defender, Dragonfly, Flowtron® Mosquito Power Trap MT 200, Lentek™ Mosquito Trap, SkeeterVac® SC1000, Mosquito Deleto 2200 System, SonicWeb™ and Lentek™ Ecotrap.

The Mega-Catch™ Premier Mosquito Trap, even without the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎, which had been marketed as the primary consumer standard for effective mosquito control, out-performed eight popular mosquito traps sold in the U.S  that use CO_2. The Mega-Catch™ Premier caught 16,120 mosquitoes over a 12-day period compared to its nearest competitor, Mosquito Magnet® Defender with a total 12-day catch of 5,179 mosquitoes.

About Mega-Catch™:

Mega-Catch™ developed the first eco-friendly mosquito traps.  Safe and non-toxic, Mega-Catch™ traps don’t require the use of harmful pesticides, fogs or sprays to kill mosquitoes.

Mega-Catch™’s patented Variable Quantity Slow CO₂ Gas Release system used in the ULTRA trap was designed to mimic human respiration and has been shown to increase capture rates of most mosquito species by as much as 300-400%.

Mega-Catch™ is a member of the American Mosquito Control Association and a responsible manufacturer who recommends using mosquito traps in conjunction with other sensible control measures designed to manage mosquito problems.