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 How Dragonfly II Biting Insect Trap WorksThe technology behind the Dragonfly II was developed in part through cooperative research between BioSensory, Inc. and the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS) under the Technology Transfer Act. Proceeds from every purchase fund the research budgets of the ARS scientists who helped develop this innovative technology. To understand how the Dragonfly II works and how to use it effectively, it is useful to first understand key details of mosquito physiology. Mosquitoes are like bloodhounds, they have a great sense of smell but very poor eyesight. They can smell you from 100 feet (30 m) away, but they can't see you until they are within 30 feet (10 m) of your location. The Dragonfly System takes advantage of mosquitoes' physiology by placing the Dragonfly trap between you and mosquito habitat, while protecting your outdoor leisure areas with Conceal inhibitor, which blocks key host odor receptors on the mosquito and makes it difficult for them to locate you. • CO 2 is released every 5 seconds simulating the “breath” of a small animal. CO 2 is the most powerful attractant for mosquitoes and biting flies. The Dragonfly II monitors the amount of CO 2 remaining in the bottle and lets you know when the bottle is getting low by flashing a low CO 2 warning. • The thermal lure heats up, producing the infrared image of blood near the surface of the skin and the body temperature of a small animal. As one entomologist (insect scientist) aptly described it, “To a mosquito the Dragonfly looks like a shaved rabbit!” Mosquitoes try to land where the blood supply comes closest to the surface of the skin. • Octenol, and other natural host-odor attractants, are activated by the heat of the thermal lure, and evaporate into the CO 2 plume. In scientific terminology host odor attractants are called kairomones. Both CO 2 and octenol are kairomones. CO 2 is the most powerful attractant, and octenol is the second most powerful attractant for mosquitoes and biting flies. When additional host-odor attractants such as lactic acid are added to the mix, the effectiveness increases still further. BioSensory biting insect lures use several combinations host-odor kairomones, depending on the targeted insect. • Mosquitoes follow the CO 2 and host odor plume until they detect the thermal lure. Mosquitoes have body heat sensors on the tip of their antennae that can detect a human from 10 feet (3 m) away, and on humid nights they can detect a human from as much as 30 feet (10 m) away! Because their mouthparts cannot reach the blood supply except where it is close to the skin, and because these areas of the body are slightly warmer than other areas, insects use heat sensors to pick the best place to land and bite. Because mosquitoes typically circle their prey before landing, they approach the Dragonfly II thermal lure and fly around it. • When mosquitoes fly too close or attempt to land on the thermal lure, their path is intercepted by one of the four capture ports at the top and bottom of the Dragonfly II. Because some species of mosquito attack from above, while others attack from below, the Dragonfly II capture ports perform equally on both. Unlike propane traps with a single capture source, tests show the Dragonfly II works well for all four major groups of mosquitoes in North America and around the world: • salt water (ocean, bays, estuaries), • fresh water (lakes, ponds, swamps), • snow-melt (rivers, streams) and • container breeders (tree-hole, automobile tires). • Mosquitoes are vacuumed into a collection tray from which they cannot escape, and within a couple of hours they die of dehydration from the air passing over them. The Dragonfly II Biting Insect Trap is one part of the Dragonfly SystemThe Dragonfly II System is designed to provide defense in-depth. The first line of defense is the Dragonfly II Biting Insect Trap, which draws biting insects away from you and kills them. The second line of defense is the Mosquito ‘Cognito dispenser or Conceal Candles. Both emit Conceal inhibitor, which blocks the scent-tracking ability of biting insects and makes it difficult for them to locate you.
Use Dragonfly II Biting Insect Trap and Mosquito ‘Cognito Conceal dispenser or Conceal Candles together for maximum effectiveness. Features and BenefitsEffectivenessIn tests against the leading propane mosquito traps, the Dragonfly II proved consistently superior, even though it uses less CO 2 than propane traps. How does it capture more mosquitoes with less CO 2 ?
Even without CO 2 , tests show the Dragonfly II sometimes catches more mosquitoes than propane mosquito traps emitting huge plumes of CO 2 ! Quality, Durability and DependabilityThe original Dragonfly, predecessor to the Dragonfly II, has been in service for 8 years around hospitals, hotels and commercial establishments. Like its predecessor, the Dragonfly II is built with industrial quality components for durability and dependability. For example:
Convenience and EconomyThe Dragonfly II works with or without CO 2 . When it uses CO 2 , it does so in the most effective manner possible. Unlike one-size-fits all propane traps that work 24/7, the Dragonfly II is programmed to protect people when they are outside, and to hunt mosquitoes at the times of day when they are most active. People aren't generally outdoors at dawn, but the Dragonfly II is working because mosquitoes are active then. The only time the Dragonfly II takes a break is when mosquitoes stop hunting – when the temperature is below 55 F. The Dragonfly II shuts down to save CO 2 and waits for warmer temperatures when mosquitoes will once again become active. The microprocessor in the Dragonfly monitors sunrise and sunset all season long and adjusts programmed operating times accordingly. In the spring or in the fall, from Reykjavik Iceland to Christchurch New Zealand , everyday the Dragonfly will hunt mosquitoes during peak activity all season long. Operating costs are minimized by programmed use of CO 2 , which costs less than propane and is more effective. Convenient, patent pending, 30-day kairomone lures cost less than competitive lures but have more uniform emissions because they are impervious to water and are heat activated (some competitive lures stop working altogether on humid nights and absorb moisture from the air). Finally, selectable, preprogrammed cycles deliver convenient, season-long set-and-forget operation, minimizing maintenance demands on your leisure time. In short, the Dragonfly II was designed to extend your outdoor leisure time all season long, and requires only a few minutes of your attention to do so. EnvironmentThe Dragonfly II is carbon neutral . The CO 2 used is recycled from the atmosphere. Unlike propane mosquito traps, it does not add to greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The Dragonfly II attracts and kills only biting insects seeking a blood meal. It is harmless to beneficial insects , unlike blue light zappers that indiscriminately kill thousands of beneficial insects and almost no mosquitoes. Purchase Dragonfly II & Lure Refills
Dragonfly II
specifications and operating instructions
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All materials on this site © 2009 BioSensory, Inc. |
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The Conceal inhibitor is not a repellent like citronella or Deet. Repellents simply smell bad. Insects avoid repellents and look elsewhere for prey. Conceal inhibitor is different, it blocks insects' host odor receptors and impairs their ability to track your scent.