UV Light Proves Useful for Attracting Cigarette and Drugstore Beetles

A recent study revealed that LED and ultraviolet are effective means of monitoring populations of cigarette and drugstore beetles, Entomology Today reports. 

The beetles, which received their name from the locations they thrive in (drugstores and tobacco storage), eat a variety of materials, including dried foods and furniture materials. 

In the study, published in the Journal of Economic Entomology, scientists experimented by adjusting the intensity of LED and UV lights. They found that UV lights attracted both types of beetles more than a blue LED light at the same intensity. Therefore, traps that combine UV lighting and chemical lures have the potential to be very effective against the pests. 

Read more about the study at www.entomologytoday.org or at the Journal of Economic Entomology