Mega-Catch News & Updates

Mega-Catch™ Mosquito Attractants 101

Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps work by mimicking the smell and characteristics of prey, fooling mosquitoes into sensing a blood meal close at hand. They function best when set up around the perimeter of a yard, attracting mosquitoes towards them and away from human activity. The more mosquitoes you attract to the trap, the more mosquitoes you’ll kill.

The use of attractant lures in mosquito traps can significantly increase capture rates of most mosquito species. At Mega-Catch™ we’ve developed a range of fragrance strips, or attractant lures as they’re commonly known, to enhance the existing design features of all our traps and increase capture rates of nuisance mosquitoes as well as other biting insects including black flies, sand flies and no-see-ums.

Which Mega-Catch™ Lure To Use

All Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps are designed to work WITH or WITHOUT attractant lures and we recommend experimenting to determine whether attractants are MORE or LESS effective with the mosquito species in your area. You can narrow down the choice of which attractant to use geographically, as certain mosquito species are only found in certain U.S. states. Check out our recommendations.

Mega-Catch™ Octenol Fragrance Strip

Octenol (1-octen-3-ol), which has been likened to oxen and cow’s breath, is highly attractive to many mosquito species. However, there are some species that are not overly attracted by Octenol – different mosquito species respond in different ways and there are many variations in their behaviours and in the things that attract them. So to determine if Octenol is more or less effective with the mosquito species in your area we recommend operating your mosquito trap without an Octenol lure for the first two weeks, and then with one for the following two weeks.

Mega-Catch™ 3000 Combo Lure
This breakthrough mosquito attractant incorporates synthetic Octenol (1-octen-3-ol), Lactic acid (C3H603) and other ingredients specially formulated then blended to attract the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) and other nuisance mosquitoes as well as sand flies, black flies and biting midges (no-see-ums).

In tests conducted by USDA entomologist Dr Daniel Kline, the capture of various mosquito species using traps baited with a combination of Octenol and Lactic acid was two to three times greater than traps baited with Octenol alone. (AMCA Journal, March 2007)

When to Replace
Once opened the active attracting ingredients will slowly dissipate. We recommend that lures should be replaced every 30 days to remain effective and to maintain optimum capture rates throughout the entire mosquito season.

The most effective way to prevent discomfort and disease is to stop mosquitoes from breeding and from biting. “We feel that you can use attractants in a trapping strategy to divert mosquitoes away from biting people” says Dr Kline. “If you can keep them from biting people you can stop the disease transmission”. (Seed Magazine, June 15, 2009)

Buy online @ http://www.megacatch.com/buyonline.html

Summer Savings – 15% off Mega-Catch™Mosquito Traps

FREEDOM TO ENJOY THE OUTDOORS
Summer is here! That means playing outside, picnics, BBQ’s, and yes, MOSQUITOES! Beat the buzz right now with some of the best rated mosquito traps on the market and make your backyard a more enjoyable space over summer. Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps….the ultimate weapon against mosquitoes and other biting insects.

Buy your Freedom Machine this Week and Save 15%

Ultra Regular Price:	$499.00
Sale Price:	$424.00
Save:	$ 74.00

Premier Regular Price:	$299.00
Sale Price:	$211.00
Save:	$ 38.00

Alpha Regular Price:	$99.00
Sale Price:	$84.00
Save:	$15.00

Available at: http://www.megacatch.com/buyonline.html

Mega-Catch™ Promoting National Mosquito Control Awareness Week

The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) has declared June 20-26 this year’s ‘National Mosquito Control Awareness Week’. Founded in 1935, the AMCA is a scientific/educational, not-for-profit public service association dedicated to preserving the public’s health and well-being through safe, environmentally sound mosquito control programs.

While not every kind of mosquito carries every kind of disease, a single bite from the right mosquito at the right time, and you’re infected. At Mega-Catch™ we actively promote prevention as the best protection. And in addition to giving tips and advice on source reduction; how to easily identify and eliminate mosquito breeding sites, we also encourage homeowners to use mosquito nets, screens, and insect repellents as well as mosquito traps. While traps won’t permanently eliminate mosquitoes in the area, most experts agree on their use in conjunction with other traditional precautions, as a way to reduce nuisance mosquitoes and biting incidences.

The 3 D’s of Mosquito Control
Many mosquito problems in your neighborhood are likely to come from water-filled containers that you can help to eliminate. The AMCA recommends following the three ‘Ds’ of mosquito control:

DRAIN – dump, clean or cover all containers around your home and work places.
ALL mosquitoes require water in which to breed. Even the smallest of containers that can collect water can breed hundreds to thousands of mosquitoes. They don’t need much water to lay their eggs (bottles, barrels, buckets, overturned garbage can lids, etc.)

DRESS – Wear light colored, loose fitting clothing. Some mosquito species are attracted to dark clothing and some can bite through tight-fitting clothes. When practical, wear long sleeves and pants.

DEFEND – Choose a mosquito repellent that has been registered by the Environmental Protection Agency. Registered products have been reviewed, approved, and pose minimal risk for human safety when used according to label directions. Three repellents that are approved and recommended are:

DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
Picaridin (KBR 3023)
Oil of lemon eucalyptus (p-methane 3,8-diol, or PMD)

Mosquitoes Prefer…..
To help raise awareness and promote this year’s ‘Mosquito Week’ we’re running a “Mosquitoes Prefer……” competition here at Mega-Catch™.

For more than 30 years scientists have been searching for compounds that attract mosquitoes. About 300 different chemicals are emitted by human skin, and figuring out which ones mosquitoes are most drawn to is painstaking work. However, U.S.D.A. research entomologist Dr Daniel Kline narrowed down the long list when he decided to use dirty socks as bait. The result: his 3-day-old socks were irresistible to them. They also love Limburger Cheese and the main ingredient in the cheese is a bacterium that’s found on the human foot. Dr Kline also studies bird, cow and flower odors that draw mosquitoes; carefully blending them like perfume to figure out what works best as bait.

If you have your own special mosquito attractant recipe or brew that you’ve used with success to attract mosquitoes, then send in the details to info@megacatch.com.

We’ll put you in the draw to win a season’s supply of accessories including our ‘must have’ Mega-Catch™ 3000 combination lure. Described as aromatherapy for mosquitoes, the breakthrough aromatic mosquito attractant incorporates synthetic Octenol, lactic acid and other ingredients specially formulated, then blended to attract the Asian tiger (Aedes albopictus) and other nuisance mosquitoes as well as sand flies, black flies and biting midges.

“We feel that you can use attractants in a trapping strategy to divert them from biting people. If you can keep them from biting people you can stop the disease transmission.” says Dr Kline (Seed Magazine, June 15, 2009)

Make Dad’s Day With Mega-Catch

Special Father’s Day Deal!

With every trap sold this week, we’ll throw in a free Limited Edition BBQ Apron so your Dad can be “Licensed to Grill”. Once you’ve place your order, email us the shipping address for the apron to: info@megacatch.com. It’s that easy.

Mega-Catch™ For Mom

If you’re a multi-tasking, over-worked, miracle-worker, MOM for short, then you want Mosquito Control to be easy, and with Mega-Catch™ it is; as easy as One, Two, Trap!

ONE
Source Reduction

Effective mosquito control starts with a thorough inspection of the potential battlefield; your yard! Check for and eliminate any standing water anywhere, in both the obvious and not so obvious places.

TWO
Personal Protection
When you do go outside, try to keep as much of your skin covered as possible, avoid bright colors that will attract the attention of mosquitoes, and use an effective insect repellent.

TRAP
Border Patrol
Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps function best when set up around the perimeter of a yard, attracting mosquitoes towards them, and away from human activity.

Trusted, proven, tested and used by thousands of US households since 1997. MegaCatch™ PREMIER Mosquito Traps are simple to operate and are a highly effective product to reduce the mosquito problem in your backyard.

Find out how you can win a Mega-Catch™ PREMIER for your mom in this year’s giveaway, exclusively for MommyPR readers @ http://www.mommypr.com/index.php/2010/04/mega-catch-mothers-day-giveaway/

Mega-Catch™ Predicting Mosquito Invasion

The series of storms that pelted the South County in early March may go a long way toward breaking the three-year drought, but they also created perfect conditions for mosquitoes and the spread of West Nile Virus.

Standing water on the ground or containers like bird baths, pot plant bases and old tires, can help breed millions of mosquitoes in less than 10 days as the weather warms up.

So in addition to a keeping grass mown, bushes trimmed and debris out of the gutters, it’s essential to eliminate any potential mosquito breeding sites as well. Remember anything that can hold water for more than a few days is a potential mosquito nursery. Just one mosquito can produce 1,200 young and a five-gallon bucket of water has the potential to produce enough mosquitoes to invade an entire city block in a residential community.

We recommend you set up your Mega-Catch™ trap at the first sign of mosquito activity. And to ensure you get the best capture rates this season, follow our simple step by step ‘Top 10 Tips” in the start up guide.

2010 Season Start Up Guide:

Clean out catch bags and liquid containers (Ultra & Premier) and replace any ripped or torn mesh bags.
Replace UV light tubes (Ultra & Premier) to optimize catch rates. UV tubes dim over time, attracting less mosquitoes.
Clean any build-up off the fan blades and internal casing using warm soapy water and wipe away any spider webs, dust, pollen or other debris.
Leave the trap to dry out for at least 24 hours before starting
Re-attach skirt (Premier & Ultra) and replace if necessary
Re-charge the timer battery (Ultra & Premier) by plugging the trap in for at least 24 hrs
Refill CO2 cylinder then reconnect to the gas regulator (Ultra)
Replace attractants. Choose from either our standard Octenol, or Mega-Catch™ 3000 Combo Lure which is specially formulated to attract a wider range of mosquito species including the hard to catch Asian Tiger (Aedes albopictus).
Place your trap away from people areas and as close to known breeding sites (bushes, shrubs and wet areas) as possible.
Connect power cord, switch on and complete the standard start-up procedure as outlined in the trap manual. Available for download at http://www.megacatch.com/manuals.html

Manufacturers Reps For Mega-Catch™ – New Territories Available

EnviroSafe Technologies International Ltd, manufactures Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps and accessories which it distributes and sells through its on-line store to over 40 countries around the globe, including the U.S., Canada, Australia, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Italy, India and Argentina.

The green trend continues to be a driving force around the world from retail to manufacturing. Global warming and climate change is impacting on mosquito populations and the harmful diseases they carry, while the world-wide backlash against the use of harmful pesticides continues to grow. Mega-Catch™, with its range of safe, non-toxic and eco friendly mosquito traps is looking to expand its US operation into retail outlets and through its network of Drop Ship Dealers, which currently includes Homedepot.com, Costco.com and Frontgate.com.

The company is currently looking for qualified manufacturers’ representatives with proven experience selling in the lawn and garden category. A number of territories are currently available including; Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Colorado. So if you are an established manufacturer’s rep with complimentary lines, or a primary interest on green living products, and you would like to add the Mega-Catch™ range of mosquito traps and accessories, send your inquiry to: info@megacatch.com

Mega-Catch™ Mosquito Traps – the Ultimate Christmas Gift

If you are still dealing with nuisance mosquitoes and haven’t yet stored your trap away for the winter, or just stuck on what to buy your family and friends for Christmas, let Mega-Catch™ help solve both your mosquito and gift-giving problems!

Mega-Catch 3000 Combo Lure – the ultimate stocking filler
The Mega-Catch™ 3000 is a combination lure incorporating synthetic Octenol, lactic acid and other ingredients specially formulated by Mega-Catch™ to increase capture rates of nuisance mosquitoes (including aedes albopictus – the Asian Tiger Mosquito) sand flies, black files and biting midges (no-see-ums).

Mega-Catch™ Mosquito Traps – the Ultimate Xmas gift
Mega-Catch™ traps incorporate the latest proven mosquito attracting science and look set to become the homeowners’ first weapon of choice in the ongoing war on mosquitoes.

Buy Online @ www.megacatch.com/buyonline.html

Mega-Catch™ Tips for Effective Winter Mosquito Control

Believe it or not, Mosquito Control agencies, unlike (some) mosquito species don’t hibernate over winter. In addition to recording what took place during the active season and planning/preparing for the next, their duties often include cleaning public ditches and streams. This allows the water to flow and can discourage and eliminate mosquitoes breeding in those areas for extended periods of time.

DIY Mosquito Control
Mosquitoes need still, stagnant water to breed. By draining containers around your home – it doesn’t take much, an inch or two that has collected in a child’s toy, a flowerpot, an old tire – you too can disrupt the process as well as reducing the potential for disease transmission.

Where do Mosquitoes go over winter?
Not all mosquitoes die from the cold but over-winter in various guises:

mosquito life cycle Some species of mosquitoes overwinter as adult females in a state of diapause (a hibernation-like state of arrested development), hiding out in barns, tree holes, basements, attics, etc. anywhere they can get out of the wind.
Typically, the female mosquito mates before the onset of winter, refusing to take a blood meal, instead feeding only on sugar. Their ovaries stop working, so their eggs will not mature. And they store plenty of fat to sustain them over winter. In spring when the temperatures rise, the female emerges from hibernation, seeks out a blood meal and lays the eggs that produce the next generation of adults.

Certain mosquito species lay winter hardy eggs able to survive extreme weather, such as cold, ice, and drought. Typically in late summer or fall, the female lays her eggs in areas where the ground is moist. In spring, when temperatures begin to rise and moisture is produced by spring rains and melting snow and ice, these eggs will hatch, progressing through larval, pupal, and finally adult stages to begin the cycle all over again.

And other species of mosquitoes can survive winter in the larval stage. All mosquito larvae require water, even in winter. As the water temperature drops, it induces a state of diapause in the mosquito larvae. Development only resumes when the water warms up again.

Winterize Your Mosquito Trap
In the warm and humid climates of the Southeast and Gulf Coast, mosquitoes can thrive all year round, making ongoing precautions essential. The Mosquito Activity Forecast from weather.com is a useful tool, as it predicts just how active mosquitoes in your area are, based on a variety of weather and time-related factors.

However, once temperatures in your area begin averaging below 50°F it’s safe to store your Mega-Catch™ trap away for the winter.

Instructions:

Turn off your Mega-Catch™ Trap and disconnect the power cable
Turn off and disconnect the regulator from the C02 cylinder. (Ultra) To ensure that insects don’t nest in your C02 system during the off-season place the regulator in a sealed bag, and place some electrical tape or similar over the end of the gas line (attached to the rear of the trap)
Remove the skirt (Ultra & Premier) and wipe down the outside of the trap with clean soapy water and a damp cloth.
Open your trap (Ultra & Premier) and again, using warm soapy water, clean the internal plates, heated reflective surface and fan, then allow todry thoroughly. (step by step guide in the Operation manual or download from http://www.megacatch.com/manuals.html)
Using a small sponge or toothbrush and warm soapy water, reach into the trap (Alpha) and carefully clean the inside casing of the fan and fan blades
Remove and discard any opened attractant lures – they’re only effective for 30 days
Remove and clean the mesh catch bag – pollen, dust and dirt can prohibit airflow and prevent your trap from working efficiently. If the catch bag is torn or damaged in any way, remove and discard. Start next season with a fresh mesh bag
To extend the life of your trap, store it in a garage or shed, protected from the elements and extreme cold
Mid-way through winter, turn on your trap and let it run for a day. This will keep the timer battery charged (Ultra & Premier) and the fan moving (Alpha, Ultra & Premier)

With a little bit of maintenance now, you can ensure a trouble-free start to the next mosquito season. Because mosquitoes that were infected with say West Nile Virus before they went into ‘hibernation’ will still have the virus when they emerge the following spring – all loaded up and ready to go!

Experts warn mosquito-borne disease latest health threat to the U.S.

Global warming, climate change and international air travel have all contributed to the the latest health threat experts predict is about to hit the U.S. Chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne disease, even more deadly than West Nile virus and carried by the Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus (Asian Tiger) mosquito has spread throughout Africa, Asia and parts of Europe, leaving a trail of outbreaks and numerous deaths in its wake.

Chikungunya virus can cause fever, rash, headache, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, muscle and joint pain. “The disease can be fatal. It’s a serious disease,” Dr James Diaz of the Louisiana University Health Sciences Center recently told a meeting on airlines, airports and disease transmission (Friday, 18 Sept 2009). He also warned that double infections are possible as the Asian tiger mosquito is also known to carry malaria, dengue fever and West Nile virus (WNV).

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Decreasing mosquito populations is one way of reducing the risk from West Nile, Chikungunya or any other mosquito-borne illness. Mosquito traps interrupt the breeding cycle and decrease mosquito populations that way. And an efficient trap that captures thousands of mosquitoes a night can all but collapse a mosquito colony over a matter of months.

Mega-Catch™ traps are highly effective because they employ a wide range of visual stimuli to attract mosquitoes. This is particularly important in the case of daytime biters like the Asian Tiger which rely on visual cues, as well as chemical cues to find their targets. The patent-pending, Mega-Catch™ 3000 combo lure, developed by and exclusive to Mega-Catch™, has been designed to further enhance the existing design features of all Mega-Catch™ traps so as to increase capture rates of target species like the Asian Tiger mosquito.