Field study on capturing midges, Propsilocerus akamusi (Diptera : Chironomidae), by artificial wingbeat sounds in a hyper-eutrophic lake

Abstract

This study was conducted to develop a new method to control adult midges Propsilocerus akamusi (Tokunaga) (Diptera : Chironomidae) using their acoustic responses to sound traps in the field. Trials were conducted from October 26 to November 3,1999,near the hyper-eutrophic Lake Suwa in central Japan. The swarm of P. akamusi formed at 1m to over 10m above ground and was observed from 15 : 10-17 : 20. More than 93% of P. akamusi caught from the swarm were males. In cylindrical sound traps, optimal trapping of swarming males occurred at frequencies of 150-180Hz at 13.8±3.1℃.