Insect traps are devices designed to monitor insect pest populations or capture and kill
them. They can be used for a variety of reasons, including monitoring insect populations,
scientific study, and pest control. Throughout ancient times, people have used traps to catch
insects. The first designs were simply spreading sticky substances like plant resin, gum or honey
on a surface. The systematic development of insect traps did not begin until the 19th century.
Early in the 1700s, a German scientist, Franz Bruckmann was the first to create the mechanical
insect-trap to capture different arthropods. John Curtis, an English entomologist, created the
first light trap in 1837 that attracted nocturnal insects using a candle flame. In Africa, basic
traps made of natural materials like plant fibres or animal skins were the earliest kind of insect
traps. Insects frequently caught in these traps were used for food, medicine, or cultural rituals.
The first documented use of insect traps on the African continent dates back to the 19th
century. One of the oldest examples was the tsetse fly trap, created in the late 19th century to
stop the spread of sleeping sickness in people and livestock. The tsetse fly is a significant
disease carrier, and traps were created to catch and kill the flies in order to lower their
population. Insect traps started to be employed more often in African agriculture in the middle
of the 20th century, especially for the management of fruit flies and other arthropod pests.
Extensive application of chemical insecticides is no longer necessary thanks to the development
of pheromone and bait traps that lure and capture these insects. Advances in technology and
materials have made traps more effective and affordable, and new innovations continue to be
developed to address emerging insect-related challenges such as the control of invasive species
and the spread of insect-borne diseases.
Insect traps are available in an array of varieties, each intended to catch a particular kind of
insect or accomplish a particular task.
Sticky traps: These traps use a sticky surface to attract insects that land on them, and
are one of the most popular kinds of insect traps. Insects that fly, such flies, mosquitoes,
and moths, are frequently observed and controlled using them.
Pheromone traps: To lure insects, these traps use pheromones, which can be made of
natural or synthetic chemicals. Insects like moths, beetles, and weevils are frequently
observed and managed using them.
Light traps: These traps use light to attract flying insects, which are then captured or
killed. They are frequently employed to both monitor insect populations and to control
nocturnal insects like moths.
Bait traps: These traps draw insects with a lure or bait, which are then caught and
destroyed. They are frequently employed to manage insects like fruit flies, cockroaches,
and ants.
There are several well-known DIY insect traps that may be created at home using basic
supplies. Here are a few illustrations:
Fruit Fly Trap: Fruit flies can be an inconvenience, especially from spring through
summer when fruit trees in the neighborhood are in bloom. Just put some liquid dish
soap and apple cider vinegar in a container, cover it in plastic wrap, and make a few
holes at the top. Fruit flies are attracted to apple cider vinegar because it has a
fermenting smell, but liquid soap works as a sealant, causing pests to stay to the
solution once they have landed there and preventing them from flying away.
Sticky Trap: To make a quick and easy sticky trap, apply a thin layer of petroleum jelly or
sticky tape to a piece of cardboard or plastic that has been blended with essential oils
that are either attracted to or repelling to the intended target. Lemon oil attracts thrips,
mealybugs, scales, and fungal thrips across all crops, as well as leafminers and Japanese
beetles in potatoes. Cinnamon tree oil also attracts thrips, mealybugs, scales, and fungal
thrips across all crops. Lavender, lemongrass, and rosemary essential oils are known to
be repellent essential oils used in homemade sticky bug traps. These oils are known to
fend off flies, fleas, mosquitoes, and several insect larvae, including cabbage loopers.
The aroma of peppermint, spearmint, and orange oils repels aphids, squash bugs, white
flies, ants, spiders, and beetles.
Beer Trap: If you have a slug or snail infestation, this trap works well since beer attracts
slugs and snails, which makes it a good bait for a home-made gastropod trap. Put beer
inside a small container or jar and bury it so that the top is level with the earth. The beer
will entice the gastropods, causing them to be lured into the trap.
• Light Trap: You can create a light trap on your own by putting a strong light source,
like a lamp or flashlight, over a bucket or other container containing soapy water.
Armyworm moths in particular, which are nocturnal flying insects, will be drawn to the
light and fall into the water, where the soap will keep them from fleeing.
When compared to insecticides, insect traps are frequently more efficient and safe for the
environment to employ. They can be used both indoors and outdoors. To minimize unwanted
outcomes like drawing more insects to the region or injuring non-target species, it is crucial to
operate traps effectively and dispose of collected insects properly. It's vital to keep in mind that
homemade traps might not work as well as commercial ones and might not work on all kinds of
insects. You can get a variety of commercial insect traps in your neighborhood agri-shop with a
variety of uses.
