Research, Methods, and Design...

        Experiment 1:

We wanted to test different bait for our traps to see how we could optimize insect catch number and insect specificity. For the fist experiment we tested different solutions to see if they attracted mosquitoes into our traps. We also wanted to make sure that the materials that we where using where cheap and accessible to most people. We tested old milk, coca cola, carbonated water, bananas, urine, and water as a control. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide, lactic acid, uric acid, and other chemicals secreted through sweat. Old milk has high concentrations of lactic acid, coca cola and carbonated water release carbon dioxide bubbles, urine contains uric acid, and there is an old wives tale about bananas attracting mosquitoes. We also wanted to test whether leaving the cap on the bottles with a hole poked threw it or no cap made a difference in the number of insects captured and specificity of insects captured. We needed to test in a location with high mosquito populations so we hiked to a remote spot at Rattlesnake Creek, in Goleta California, that was blanketed in mosquitoes. At the testing location we set up two of each trap, one with a modified cap, one with no cap. We left the traps in that location for four days and then hiked back to retrieve our data. The contents of the traps where poured into coffee filters and the data was collected. Unfortunately though we only captured two mosquitoes, both in the coca cola sample.

Experiment 2:

We then tested different solutions as fly attractants. For the first fly test we used eggs, coke, bananas, coke, old milk, hotdog meat, and water as a control. We used two of each trap again to test whether having a modified cap or no cap made a difference in catch number and capture specificity. We tested these traps at horse pasture in Goleta and left them there for 4 days. This time our traps functioned successfully. The contents of the traps where poured into coffee filters and counted. For the traps with eggs; modified cap: 5 flies, no cap: 3 flies. Traps with coke; modified cap: 0, no cap: 1 fly. Traps with banana; modified cap: 3 flies, no cap: 4 flies. The traps with old milk; modified cap: 2 mosquitoes, no cap: 5 flies, 1 pincherbug. The traps with meat; modified cap: 9 flies, no cap: 6 flies, ants, and 1 live lizard. And finally our control H20; modified cap: 1 fly, no cap: 1 silverfish. The results of this first experiment showed us that we captured the most flies using meat and eggs. We also demonstrated that there is more bycatch in traps that do not have the modified cap. The meat trap with no cap captured a lizard, ants and various other insects. The lizard got away safely, but to prevent this from occurring again we have decided to include the modified cap in the trap design in order to increase trap specificity.

       Experiment 3:

For the next fly experiment we used successful materials from the first experiment and some other new materials. We also tested whether adding a drop of soap to the water would decrease the surface tension of the water and increase our catch yield. We tested 2 of each, one with a drop of soap added and one without.  The solutions we tested where fish, beer, old milk, bananas, horse poop, hotdog meat, eggs, and water as a control. We set the traps in the same location as before and left them out there for 4 days. The contents of the traps where poured into coffee filters to collect the data. Traps with fish; no soap: 1 cockroach, soap: 0. Traps with beer; no soap; 2 cockroaches, 1 pincherbug, soap: 0. Traps with old milk; no soap: 2 flies, soap: 2 flies. Traps with banana; no soap: 1 fly, soap: 6 pincherbugs. Traps with horse poop; no soap: 0, soap: 0, Traps with meat: no soap: 6 flies, soap: 8 flies, 2 yellowjackets. Traps with eggs; no soap: 8 flies, 5 yellowjackets, soap: 4 flies. Traps with control H20; no soap: 0, soap: 0. These results showed us that traps containing meat or eggs attracted the greatest number of flies. We also observed that soap made no noticeable difference in the number of insects we captured.