Battery-powered, electrocuting trap for stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae). 1991

L G Pickens
Livestock Insects Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, Maryland 20705.

A solar-charged, battery-powered, electrocuting grid was combined with a white plywood base to make a portable, pulsed-current, pest-electrocuting device that attracted and killed stable flies, Stomoxys calcitrans (L.), outdoors. The grid was powered once every 1-2 s by a 0.016-s pulse of 60-Hz alternating current of 4 mA and 9,500 V. Power was turned off at night by a photoresistor. The trap functioned continuously for 14 d with an unrecharged 12-V, 18A/h lawn-tractor battery and killed as many as 4,000 flies per day. Solar cells were used to charge a single 12-V battery continuously that operated 12 grids for a period of 90 d. The grid did not short circuit for any length of time even during heavy rainstorms or when large insects were killed. The incorporation of moiré patterns and the utilization of the correct size, orientation, and placement of wires made the electrocuting grid itself attractive to stable flies. The traps were spaced at distances of up to 120 m from the battery and pulse circuit. The electrocuting traps were more effective than sticky traps and avoided the problems associated with chemicals. They are well suited for use around calf pens, dog kennels, or large animal shelters.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007300 Insect Control The reduction or regulation of the population of noxious, destructive, or dangerous insects through chemical, biological, or other means. Control, Insect
D009117 Muscidae A family of the order DIPTERA with over 700 species. Important species that may be mechanical vectors of disease include Musca domesticus (HOUSEFLIES), Musca autumnalis (face fly), Stomoxys calcitrans (stable fly), Haematobia irritans (horn fly) and Fannia spp. Face Fly,Fannia,Haematobia irritans,Horn Fly,Musca autumnalis,Stable Fly,Stomoxys calcitrans,Face Flies,Fannias,Flies, Face,Flies, Horn,Flies, Stable,Fly, Face,Fly, Horn,Fly, Stable,Haematobia irritan,Horn Flies,Musca autumnali,Stable Flies,Stomoxys calcitran,autumnali, Musca,calcitran, Stomoxys,irritan, Haematobia
D004553 Electric Conductivity The ability of a substrate to allow the passage of ELECTRONS. Electrical Conductivity,Conductivity, Electric,Conductivity, Electrical
D004559 Electric Wiring An arrangement of wires distributing electricity. Electrical Wiring,Wiring, Electric,Wiring, Electrical
D004597 Electroshock Induction of a stress reaction in experimental subjects by means of an electrical shock; applies to either convulsive or non-convulsive states. Electroconvulsive Shock,Electroconvulsive Shocks,Electroshocks,Shock, Electroconvulsive,Shocks, Electroconvulsive
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013696 Temperature The property of objects that determines the direction of heat flow when they are placed in direct thermal contact. The temperature is the energy of microscopic motions (vibrational and translational) of the particles of atoms. Temperatures
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor

Related Publications

L G Pickens
September 1988, Journal of medical entomology,
L G Pickens
August 1974, Journal of medical entomology,
L G Pickens
June 1993, Biochemical genetics,
L G Pickens
September 2017, Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association,
L G Pickens
September 2018, Journal of economic entomology,
L G Pickens
October 1987, Journal of economic entomology,
L G Pickens
October 1987, Journal of economic entomology,
Copied contents to your clipboard!