Why LEDs make a better insect light trap

Flies and other flying insects are a threat to businesses that need contamination-free environments,
such as those handling food or pharmaceuticals. They’re also a nuisance in customer-facing areas of
organisations, including hotels and conference venues.

Every business needs an effective solution for removing flies that is suitable for their specific
environments – whether that’s a large warehousing facility or a café. There is a range of factors for a
business to consider when choosing an insect light trap (ILT). While traditional ILTs may be effective at
killing flies, LED ILTs have equally, if not better, efficacy and bring a host of other benefits, too.

https://www.rentokil.com/blog/led-fly-control-trap/

LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES INSECT TRAPPING

In a climate of increased funding for vaccines, chemotherapy, and prevention of vector-borne diseases,
fewer resources have been directed toward improving disease and vector surveillance. Recently
developed light-emitting diode (LED) technology was applied to standard insect-vector traps to produce
a more effective lighting system. This approach improved phlebotomine sand fly capture rates by 50%,
and simultaneously reduced the energy consumption by 50–60%. The LEDs were incorporated into 2
lighting designs, 1) a LED combination bulb for current light traps and 2) a chip-based LED design for a
modified Centers for Disease Control and Prevention light trap. Detailed descriptions of the 2 designs
are presented.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2603179/

Next generation insect light traps: The use of LED light technology in sampling emerging aquatic
macroinvertebrates

LED lights were trialled as a replacement for traditional fluorescent bulbs for catching emerging aquatic
macroinvertebrates. Initial trials with white LEDs were disappointing, with the catch amounting to
chance contact with the trap, but when ultraviolet LEDs were used, there was no significant difference
from the traditional fluorescent trap of the same design. While the fluorescent trap used most or all of
the available battery power, the LED lights used less than 10% of the available power. It is suggested
that LEDs can be used to replace the more powerdemanding traditional lights for use in light traps.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233392052_Next_generation_insect_light_traps_The_use_o
f_LED_light_technology_in_sampling_emerging_aquatic_macroinvertebrates