Vector control by removal trapping

The classic approach to vector control where large tracts of land are treated with an insecticide has many shortcomings. These include high cost, chemical resistance of target species to many of the widely used insecticides, a lack of public acceptance, and the detrimental effect of sprays on nontarget species. Removal trapping, the use of visual, auditory, and olfactory attractants to lure target species into small areas where they are killed, has recently received well-deserved attention as a possible alternative to the broadcast application of chemicals for vector control. We briefly review the histories of four successful removal trapping programs; Hippelates eye gnats in the United States, tsetse flies in Africa, Stomoxys calcitrans flies in Australia, and tabanids in the United States. We then review the future prospects of removal trapping and evaluate its potential as a viable method for vector control.