Designing a Trap to Attract and Capture Kissing Bugs in Jalisco, Mexico.
Document Type
Oral Presentation
Campus where you would like to present
SURC Ballroom C/D
Start Date
15-5-2014
End Date
15-5-2014
Keywords
Chagas Disease, Kissing Bugs, Trapping
Abstract
Our objective was to design a mechanism that effectively attracts and captures Triatominae species, also known as kissing bugs, in the field. These insects carry the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and are the major vector for Chagas Disease throughout the Americas. By designing a dependable method of capturing these bugs, we hoped to aid in future efforts to study, and potentially prevent transmission of the disease. The study was performed at Estación de Biología Chamela in Jalisco, Mexico, where Triatoma pallidipennis had previously been recorded and several Triatoma individuals were found during our study. Each trap consisted of a 14-inch long plastic tube, covered at both ends with a cone of wire mesh that led to into the tube. At the end of the mesh cone was a bug-sized opening angled such that the insect would fall into the trap and not be able to climb out. Three attractant methods were used: light, a previously-captured live kissing bug, and a CO2 emitter created by combining live yeast with sugar and flour. Over three nights, traps were placed in a variety of configurations centered around a set of pitfalls traps known to have successfully captured Triatoma in the past. Unfortunately, no Triatoma were captured in any of the traps despite continued captures in the pitfalls. We believe that this failure may be due to the CO2 emissions being too low or the wire mesh being a deterrent to Triatoma movements. Future studies may look to rectify these concerns.
Recommended Citation
Wenger, Analiese and Fergus, Craig, "Designing a Trap to Attract and Capture Kissing Bugs in Jalisco, Mexico." (2014). Symposium Of University Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 59.
https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/source/2014/posters/59
Poster Number
34
Additional Mentoring Department
Biological Sciences
Additional Mentoring Department
Geological Sciences
Designing a Trap to Attract and Capture Kissing Bugs in Jalisco, Mexico.
SURC Ballroom C/D
Our objective was to design a mechanism that effectively attracts and captures Triatominae species, also known as kissing bugs, in the field. These insects carry the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and are the major vector for Chagas Disease throughout the Americas. By designing a dependable method of capturing these bugs, we hoped to aid in future efforts to study, and potentially prevent transmission of the disease. The study was performed at Estación de Biología Chamela in Jalisco, Mexico, where Triatoma pallidipennis had previously been recorded and several Triatoma individuals were found during our study. Each trap consisted of a 14-inch long plastic tube, covered at both ends with a cone of wire mesh that led to into the tube. At the end of the mesh cone was a bug-sized opening angled such that the insect would fall into the trap and not be able to climb out. Three attractant methods were used: light, a previously-captured live kissing bug, and a CO2 emitter created by combining live yeast with sugar and flour. Over three nights, traps were placed in a variety of configurations centered around a set of pitfalls traps known to have successfully captured Triatoma in the past. Unfortunately, no Triatoma were captured in any of the traps despite continued captures in the pitfalls. We believe that this failure may be due to the CO2 emissions being too low or the wire mesh being a deterrent to Triatoma movements. Future studies may look to rectify these concerns.
Faculty Mentor(s)
Beck, Daniel; Stryker, Gabrielle; Ely, Lisa