Syzygium samarangense Leaf Infusion as Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) Ovitrap Bait

Abstract

Adding lures can improve the efficiency of mosquito ovitraps used for monitoring or in attract-and-kill pest management. Easily produced, low-to-no cost bait would be ideal for remote field sites and community-run vector management. Plant infusions are popular ovitrap baits for their low cost and potent attractiveness, attributed either to the plants or their microbiomes. We tested fermented leaf infusions of the wax apple tree, Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & Perry, as bait in lethal ovitraps in urban Taipei with Bti larvicide. All trapped insects were inferred to be Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus (Skuse). The bait significantly increased the yield of the traps, with no negative interactions with the larvicide in either direction. Syzgium samarangense leaves are readily available across Taiwan, making their infusion an easy bait to greatly improve ovitrap efficiency.

Keywords: Aedes albopictus; Syzygium samarangense; mosquito; oviposition.