Does adding dry ice to light traps increase catch compared to light alone?

Does adding dry ice to light traps increase catch compared to light alone?

• A. Sometimes
• B. True
• C. False
• D. Not sure

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that carbon dioxide acts as a long-range attractant for many mosquitoes. Dry ice sublimates to CO2, creating a steady plume that mosquitoes use to locate hosts from a distance. Light traps rely on visual attraction, but CO2 provides an olfactory cue that brings mosquitoes into the trap’s vicinity, where the light can influence their final approach. Because the CO2 source helps draw more mosquitoes to the trap, adding dry ice typically increases the number captured compared with using light alone. The degree of increase can vary by species, weather, and trap design, but the overall effect is an improved catch when CO2 is included.