Posted on: 09 June, 2012
Author: Ma. Theresa Galan
Before installing insect light traps several factors should be considered to aid in the selection of units which are effective and positioned for optimum control. One of the most important environmental factors that we can control is the attraction due to the type of exterior lighting. Wherever possible or feasible, sodium vapor lamps should be used rather than either mercury vapor lamps or incandescent bulbs. The reason for this is simply that mercury vapor and incandescent bulbs emit a much higher concentration of the wavelength of light that attracts insects than the sodium vapor lamps. Therefore, using sodium vapor lamps will significantly reduce the number of flies that are attracted to the area during the evening hours. Insect light traps (ILT s ) do not attract flies well enough to actually reduce a given population unless several criteria are met. WIDE CATCH-TRAYS ON INSECTOCUTOR TYPE UNITS Manufacturers which have designed a wide catch-tray base on their units instead of the recommended housing also reduce the effectiveness of the units because of the obstruction of the fly's visibility to the trap caused by the wide bottom tray. WALL-MOUNTED INSECT LIGHT TRAP AS FIRST CHOICE Whenever possible a wall mounted insect light trap should be installed in the near vicinity to each entry point. Since optimum control of flies results from units located two to three feet from the floor, wall mounted insect light traps are generally most effective. The RG-1002 Supreme is recommended for this purpose and can be attached flat to the wall or corner mounted. GLUE BOARD ILT s IN SENSITIVE FOOD AREAS When all steps have been taken to control flies at entry points around the building perimeter, flies may still escape into interior areas and steps must be taken at this point to control them. While smaller wall mounted ILT can be relocated to more interior areas they will serve, in most cases, to monitor fly activity but may not result in completely satisfactory control. The most effective monitoring and control in interior areas where food is processed, packaged, or otherwise exposed is is obtained by installing a mobile glue board ILT such as the GT-200 Elite. This ILT design provides monitoring by attracting flies using the same "BL" type bulbs proven effective in other units, but uses a glue pad to capture the insects rather than the electrocution grid found in other units. This is the only method acceptable to the FDA in sensitive food handling areas because flies cannot explode scattering insect fragments into the air which may contaminate food. PROPER POSITIONING OF ILT s When wall mounted units are selected they should be mounted on the same wall the entry is on or on a close by perpendicular wall. They should not be placed on walls directly across from entry doors because this will result in flies being attracted into the facility by the unit when the door is open. AVOID LIGHT TRAP RECOGNITION In entry lobbies, employee break areas, food serving, and other areas it may be desirable to provide monitoring and control of flying insects with a light trap that is not easily identified as a pest control device. In these situations the attractive WS-85 Wall Sconce insect light trap is ideal. This unit is intended to provide optimum silent control and has been designed so it appears as a decorative lighting device and is not easily recognizable as an insect light trap. For more related information of the topic, see more in links below: fly control auckland, pest control auckland Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com Graeme Stephens has been running the largest owned carpet cleaning companyin new Zealand for 24 years. IICRC qualified "master restoration technician"