The mosquitoes are quite bad this year. While the focus is on all things COVID, I'm wondering to what extent viruses like West Nile are cruising about under the radar. I suspect our current mosquito bloom is of Culex tarsalis, known to be a major transmitter of WNV.....and even without the virus concern is a really annoying species of mosquito. One of the attractants I've seen used in mosquito lures for traps in addition to
CO2 and Octenal is nonanal (9-carbon aldehyde). Normally, most organic compounds like this are sold only among industrial and research concerns, but it appears that many aldehydes are used in the perfume industry to give certain "notes" to perfume. Poking around on the internet, I've come across a few perfume vendors that do in fact
sell octenal and nonanal to the public and am thinking of trying this as a mosquito bait. But was wondering if anyone else had any information directly or anecdotally before I took the plunge. Thanks!
