Solar-powered electrocuting trap for controlling house flies and stable flies (Diptera: Muscidae)

Area of Science:

• Entomology
• Pest Management
• Agricultural Engineering

Background:

• House flies (Musca domestica) and stable flies (Stomoxys calcitrans) are significant pests in outdoor environments, particularly around livestock and waste areas.
• Existing fly control methods may have limitations in terms of effectiveness, cost, or environmental impact.
• Visual attractants and electrocution are established principles in insect trapping technology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel portable trap for outdoor control of house flies and stable flies.
• To assess the trap's effectiveness in attracting and killing target fly species under varying environmental conditions.
• To investigate the influence of trap design elements (color, shape, temperature) on fly behavior and capture rates.

Main Methods:

• Construction of a portable trap featuring a visually attractive white and yellow pyramid atop a white vertical base with cutouts.
• Integration of solar-powered electrocuting grids for killing attracted flies.
• Field testing of three traps at a manure dump, recording average daily captures of house flies and stable flies.
• Observation of fly behavior and capture location in relation to trap design and ambient temperature (cool < 23°C, warm > 30°C).

Main Results:

• Three traps achieved average daily captures of 1,360 house flies and 1,190 stable flies.
• The trap proved effective in attracting flies across a range of temperatures (cool and warm).
• Both fly species showed a preference for the eastern side of the trap; house flies exhibited color preference shifts based on temperature and time of day (yellow in cool mornings, white in warm afternoons).
• Flies sought shaded areas (base or tunnels) at temperatures > 30°C.
• House flies were primarily captured on the pyramidal top, while stable flies were mainly caught on the vertical base.
• Simpler, cheaper opaque fiberglass tunnels with grids were less effective for stable flies.

Conclusions:

• The developed portable trap is a visually attractive and effective device for controlling outdoor populations of house flies and stable flies.
• Trap design elements, including color and shade, significantly influence fly attraction and capture, with species-specific differences observed.
• The trap's performance across different temperatures highlights its potential for broad application in fly management strategies.