Q & A

Q1. Are there any suggestions for placing the ovitrap?

a. The laundry balcony and the main entrance
The entrance to a residence is the main channel through which mosquitoes follow people inside. If the residence is located at lower floors, placing the ovitrap outside the entrance can significantly lower the mosquito density in the area and in turn reduce the amount of mosquitoes coming inside.

b. Indoor bathrooms or around potted plants
Mosquitoes like humid and gloomy areas, so place the ovitrap as close to the wall as possible, and other areas such as the bathrooms and around potted plants are also suitable places.

c. Placed it at a height of at least 75 cm
Mosquitoes rarely fly low close to the ground. Therefore, it is recommended to place the ovitrap close to the wall at least 75 cm high above the ground, the higher the better.

d. The underground car park
It is recommended to keep the ovitrap operating for 24 hours when it is placed in the underground car park. The best location is around basement fire water towers and elevator entrances.

e. At business venues
For business venues, such as offices, restaurants, banks, factories, etc., it is recommended to place the ovitraps on counters during off-hours, the higher the better.

Q2. Why does the ovitrap catch no mosquitoes?

In a home environment, lighting, ventilation and human activities most affect the effectiveness of the ovitrap. For the best results, please place the ovitrap as far from humans as possible, or turn it on while leaving the house in the evening. It is strongly recommended not to use the ovitrap during sleeping hours because the carbon dioxide concentration exhaled from humans is higher than that released from an ovitrap, and body odor is often hard to disperse in smaller rooms, which causes low effectiveness in the mosquito trapping effect. To trap mosquitoes in a room, it is recommended to turn on the ovitrap 3-4 hours prior to sleeping and keep the door closed. Move the ovitrap to the living room during sleeping hours as there is no light interference during this time and mosquitoes will not be able to fly into bedrooms while doors are closed, so they will be easily trapped.

Q3. Why doesn’t the ovitrap catch small black mosquitoes?

The so-called small black mosquitoes are not mosquitoes; they are midges. Its scientific name is Forcipomiya Taiwana and belongs to the Ceratopogonini family, but mosquitoes belong to the Culicidea family. The midges prefer the odor of sweat. The photocatalyst ovitrap is design to attract mosquitoes with UV light, carbon dioxide and temperature. The device is not effective equipment for attracting sweat and odor-loving midges.

Q4. Why isn’t LED adopted as the light source?

The currently adopted LED light sources for ovitraps are the small globular UV LED which is mainly used for bill detector pens. The wavelength is between 380-400nm which is not the best wavelength (360-370nm) for mosquito attracting light devices, and therefore the effectiveness is rather limited. The power of UV light is lower which means lower surface temperature; thus, UV LED cannot simulate body temperature like CCFL does. In addition, the UV LED directive irradiation angle is less than 60° which is not able to meet the 360° wide irradiation angle that the CCFL has. The wider the irradiation angle, the better the mosquito attracting effectiveness.

Q5. How often do I need to replace the light tube?

UV light is invisible light and the intensity decreases with time of use. Even when the lamp is still bright, the trapping efficiency is limited due to the intensity decay of the UV light. For general family use 8-12 hours per day, it is recommended to replace the light tube once every two years. For 24-hour continuous use such as in factories, schools, community underground parking, restaurants, etc., it is recommended to replace the light tube every year to maintain the best trapping efficiency.

Q6. Is it necessary to replenish the photocatalyst?

The characteristic of the photocatalyst is much like how iron conducts electricity and basically the power will not disappear. If the photocatalyst plastic substrate above the light tube is dirty, just wipe it with a soft wet cloth. As long as there is no hard scrubbing with detergent on the photocatalyst plastic substrates, the effect will last.

Q7. How to increase the effect of an ovitrap?

Cream or lanolin containing stearic acid can increase the effect of an ovitrap. A photocatalyst ovitrap does not require any additive to induce the trapping effect. If it is desired to enhance the effectiveness, add some cream (such as Cellina) or lanolin containing stearic acid in a PET bottle cap and place it in the mosquito storage box. The stearic acid simulates part of human sweat and odor which have certain effects of attracting mosquitoes.

Q8. Is it safe to add alcohol to the ovitrap during operation?

The alcoholic fermentation process produces small quantities of carbon dioxide which attracts mosquitoes. It is a good idea to add a small amount of alcohol (such as red wine or rice wine) in a PET bottle cap and place it in the mosquito storage box. The alcohol helps to attract mosquitoes.