Insect Light Traps- The Basics
Heavy Fly Activity!
So, You Need An Insect Light Trap?
Remember, it’s not a control device!
Insect light traps are great for monitoring. They can tell you if you have an unknown problem, and they can catch pesky accidental invaders! But, you need to know how to properly use them in order to help you and your clients effectively eliminate pest problems. A while back I was working for a regional pest control company as an Entomologist/Technical Director. One day, I received a call from a field technician who had these flies popping up by the hundreds on his glue boards.
Minute Black Scavenger Fly
I immediately started asking questions like what kind of facility was he in? It turns out the technician was servicing a milk production facility. One thing to know about minute black scavenger flies is that they are almost always associated with decaying organic matter (think putrid, foul smelling areas!).
In this case the problem was identified as a leaking milk transporting pipe that was allowing milk to sour and accumulate in a wall. When the pipe was found, the wall was cut open and thousands of these flies started pouring out! The pipe and the wall were subsequently fixed and the flies were no longer a problem.
If I solely relied on the insect light traps to solve the problem, I would have never properly identified the fly, and I would have never helped to find the source of the flies.
See the links below for more information about minute black scavenger flies and a comparison of LED versus fluorescent bulbs for insect light traps.
If you find yourself needing pest control and/or fly remediation, contact Grace Valley Pest Control today! We service the Cumming, Dahlonega, Dawsonville, and Cleveland areas of Georgia. We offer commercial and residential services to fit your needs!
Pestweb- Minute Black Scavenger Flies | LED vs Fluorescent Bulbs
What You Need To Know
- Proper height and placement is key- 4-5 feet up!
- Don’t place near a window or glass doors- you’ll draw them in!
- Keep doors and windows closed!
- Is your glue board telling you a story?
“Glue boards can tell you a lot about a situation. If you are getting a lot of filth breeding flies, small-dung flies for example, then you could have a situation where the soil beneath the building is contaminated with sewage sludge from a broken pipe, or something similar!”- Andrew Taylor, BCE
Andrew Taylor, BCE
Owner, Grace Valley Pest Control, Board Certified Entomologist
LED Versus Fluorescent Bulbs
Another topic that has been gaining momentum in the pest control industry is the use of LED insect light traps versus the fluorescent insect light traps, which remain the most prominent type of insect light trap in the industry.
- LED lights do not need annual replacement versus fluorescent bulbs (fluorescent bulbs lose effectiveness over a year)
- LED bulbs are as effective as the day they were installed. The only time you need to replace them is when they finally burn out (3-4 years!)
- LED insect light traps are starting to become more affordable for everyday use
- LED bulbs work well, but they typically have a narrow light spectrum to attract pests. So, you may not catch as much of a variety of insects if they are attracted to different spectrums of light.
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