Abstract
This is a follow-up to our published work in which several questions were left unanswered. In the main article, the fluorescent mosquito trap was shown to be a good mosquito control measure. Although it uses a small, baited water reservoir, it must remain open to allow mosquitoes access. This raises several issues regarding water evaporation, especially when the trap is exposed to sunlight. Because the trap contains water that is open to the air, other insects may enter and die in the reservoir, causing spoilage and promoting algae growth, which reduces its efficacy. The reservoirs need to be narrow enough to prevent other insects from becoming trapped while remaining effective. At the same time, questions were raised regarding the core function of the trap: what evidence shows that the mosquitoes were killed? Although borax is commonly used to kill ants, cockroaches, and mosquito larvae, questions remain regarding its effectiveness against adult mosquitoes. This study utilized a 32 oz carryout food container. The outward-bending U-shaped rim was modified to form an annular auto-refill reservoir approximately 2 mm wide, and a narrow fluorescent blue band was applied to construct the trap. Using a modified “super trap” designed to capture insects after ingesting the solution, we documented more than 300 dead mosquitoes over a 48-hour period. In addition, common knowledge from Google searches on water evaporation rates suggests that the unit would require refilling only every six months indoors and every three months outdoors.