Light Traps: Benefits and Drawbacks

“Light traps… devices that use light to attract and capture insects. Big advantage —

high capture efficiency. They catch large numbers, fast. They’re also easy

to use… just set them up and let them run. And they’re low cost… much cheaper

than many other methods. But there are downsides. They have limited applicability… only

work on insects drawn to light. They can disrupt natural behaviors… things like feeding

or mating. And they may even alter movement patterns within insect populations. So in short… light

traps are efficient, affordable, and simple… but they need to be used carefully,

to avoid harming natural ecosystems.”