Laboratory Evaluation of a Non-Insecticide Multimodal Trap Using Carbon Dioxide, Lactic Acid, Ultraviolet-A Light and Sound Frequency for Aedes aegypti Control

Abstract

Background: Dengue remains an important public health problem in tropical and subtropical settings. Aedes aegypti is a principal dengue vector and is highly adapted to domestic environments. Because repeated chemical-based control may contribute to insecticide resistance and environmental exposure, practical non-insecticide tools are needed. This study evaluated a non-insecticide multimodal trap integrating carbon dioxide, lactic acid, ultraviolet-A light and sound frequency for Ae. aegypti control.

Methods: This quasi-experimental study evaluated a laboratory prototype multimodal trap. A total of 2,850 female Ae. aegypti mosquitoes were used for multimodal combination testing and commercial-trap comparison after preliminary attractant optimization. The colony was obtained from the Parasitology Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Non-blood-fed females aged 3–5 days were used. Each treatment included three replications of 50 mosquitoes. Outcomes were analyzed using the General Linear Model and repeated ANOVA.

Results: Lactic acid was the most effective single attractant (78.66%). The four-mode combination produced the highest mean effectiveness (91.33%), with a maximum observed value of 98%. In the enclosed-room test, the multimodal trap performed significantly better than the Mosquito Killer BG-360 and the suction-only negative control, but not sig­nifi­cantly better than the Photocatalyst Mosquito and Fly Trap.

Conclusion: The non-insecticide multimodal trap showed promising laboratory effectiveness for capturing or elec­tro­cuting Ae. aegypti. Semi-field and field trials are needed to assess operational effectiveness, feasibility, electrical safety and durability.