Technology Description:
This invention is for environmentally-safe chemical attractants for mosquitoes. ARS researchers have found more than 340 different chemical scents produced by humans and animals that attract mosquitoes. The attractants include acids, ketones, and sulfides. Finding what attracts mosquitoes will ultimately help find ways to control them. An important discovery about these blends is they don't use CO2 (carbon dioxide), unlike most other blends or attractants. CO2 is difficult to work with, since it requires a huge tank or a brick of dry ice to use it. These attractants can be used as nontoxic baits in mosquito traps for surveillance purposes. Many countries, particularly underdeveloped ones, need improved detection and population monitoring in areas where mosquitoes pose high risks of transmitting diseases like yellow fever, dengue, and malaria. Knowing the mosquito distribution and population in a particular area can help with developing ways to control them.
Reference:
Please refer to S.N. 10/670,598 (Docket #0184.03), "Chemical Composition that Attract Arthropods," which was filed on September 26, 2003. The application is a continuation of S.N. 09/848,236, which was filed on May 4, 2001, which is a divisional of S.N. 09/304,362, which was filed on May 4, 1999. Foreign rights are available.
Inventors:
Ulrich R. Bernier Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology 1600 S.W. 23rd Drive Gainesville, FL 32604 (352) 374-5931 / Fax: (352) 374-5922
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Daniel L. Kline (Same as first inventor)
Kenneth H. Posey (Same as first inventor)
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Donald R. Barnard (Same as first inventor)
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Matthew M. Booth / Richard A. Yost University of Florida Department of Chemistry Gainesville, FL 32611
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