102 - Reducing Collection Bycatch Using a Modified CDC Light Trap

Wednesday, March 25, 2026

9:50 AM - 10:00 AM PDT

Location: B116

Presenter(s)

Mitch B. Mullin, BS (he/him/his)

Graduate Research Assistant
Western Carolina University, North Carolina, United States

Co-Author(s)

AE

Alana Eargle, BS

Western Carolina University, North Carolina, United States
MH

Makayla Humphrey, n/a

Graduate Research Assistant
Western Carolina University, North Carolina, United States
Julie M. Cadigan, M.S. (in progress) (she/her/hers)

Graduate Research Assistant
Western Carolina University, North Carolina, United States
JB

Jun Soo Bae, MS

University of Florida, Florida, United States
YL

Yoosook Lee, PhD

University of Florida, Florida, United States
Brian Byrd, PhD, MSPH

Professor
Western Carolina University, North Carolina, United States

Abstract: Light is a common visual attractant used in mosquito surveillance traps to increase capture rates. Although effective for attracting positively-phototactic mosquito species, light traps also capture other light-attracted arthropods as “bycatch.” Using a modified CDC light trap with a 15-minute on/off light cycle, we determined that the abundance of “non-target” arthropods was reduced by half when sampling in areas with high insect diversity without meaningfully reducing the detection of target species.