This study attempted to design an effective trap to capture kissing bugs, which transmit Chagas disease, in Jalisco, Mexico. The trap design utilized both CO2 emitted by yeast and LED lights, which previous studies found attractive to kissing bugs. No kissing bugs were captured in the novel trap designs over three nights of testing. Some traps were modified to widen the openings after one bug had difficulty entering. More kissing bugs were captured in pitfall traps placed nearby, suggesting these traps better reflect the bugs' natural behaviors. The trap design may need alterations to effectively capture kissing bugs for future surveys.

1. Designing a Trap to Attract and Capture Kissing Bugs in Jalisco, Mexico
Craig Fergus and Analiese Wenger
Introduction
Chagas disease (American trypanosomaisis) is a neglected tropical
disease which affects an estimated 7-8 million individuals (WHO,
2014). While Chagas disease is often asymptomatic, it can inflict an
infected individual with a variety of symptoms including fever,
seizures, paralysis, and even sudden death in the acute phase (CDC,
2013) This illness is caused by a unicellular parasite known as
Trypanosoma cruzi carried by the subfamily of blood feeding insects
Triatominae, commonly known as kissing bugs.
In order to aid in prevention of Chagas disease more information is
required about T. cruzi which means developing effective ways to catch
its vector. A few studies have established trapping mechanisms
(Pimenta et al. 2007, Guerenstein et al. 1995) which used CO2
emissions from yeast volatiles to lure the breath seeking triatoma
species into the trap. A more recent study by Pacheco-Tucuch et al.
2012 demonstrated the use of LED lights significantly increased
enticement of kissing bugs into traps. This study attempted to utilize
both of these attractants in conjunction with a novel, cost-effective, and
easy to use trap design.
Discussion
There may be a few reasons for the failure of this trap design.
While running incidental lab trials with one of the bugs from the
pitfalls we discovered that the initial size of our openings were too
small for it to pass through. After widening the opening the test bug
was able to move through the hole but generally seemed opposed to
entering the trap and, when forced, moved awkwardly on the mesh.
This may mean that despite being attracted to our bait, the bug may
have not considered it worth the effort of entering the trap. It is also
possible that pitfall traps were more effective because it reflects the
natural behaviors of dropping on prey from above.
In future tests, it may also be worth considering the density of
triatoma in the trapping area. As many individuals were captured
incidentally by other students around the dormitory complex as
were captured in the main pitfall array. This suggests that areas near
human settlement may be more productive and thus an easier
location to trap.
Conclusion
Unfortunately, our traps did not succeed in capturing any
triatoma, but hopefully with some alterations in construction the
base design may still be useful in future surveys.
Objective
Evaluate the effectiveness of a novel trap design for capturing kissing
bugs during the Biology 377 course.
Hypothesis
Triatoma species will be attracted more strongly to traps with both
yeast and light.
Methods
Trap design
Our traps were built around a 14” long PVC pipe capped by wire
mesh cones pointing inward at both ends. The light attractant consisted
of a white LED hung on the top of inside the trap with its leads
attached to a battery on the outside. The CO2 attractant consisted of a
118 ml plastic container with a combination of 1 g yeast, 0.5 g sugar,
and 5 ml water.
Main trapping
Day 1- March 24th
Sixteen traps were placed along a trail at 10 pace intervals. Two sets
of treatments were placed leading away from a center point in either
direction (4 total) as follows: traps with both lights and yeast, traps
with just yeast, traps with just lights, and traps with neither. Traps were
open from 10pm to 9:30am the next day
Day 2- March 25th
Traps were placed at same locations but the 2 “neither” treatment
traps closest to the center point were replaced with conspecific
treatments (a captured triatoma left inside the trap). Traps were open
from 8:00pm to 7:00am
Day 3- March 29th
Traps were taken off the trail and placed directly on the pitfall array
(see below) : 2 per line, 1 in the center of the array, and 1 to the side in
a bush (8 total). All traps utilized both light and yeast attractants but
half of the traps were given a double dose of yeast. Traps were open
from 12pm to 4pm.
Pitfall trapping
During our trapping period a previously constructed pitfall array
sitting at the center of our transect was open for the general capture of
multiple species. It consisted of 3 metal fences approximately 15 cm
high and 3 m long each with gallon sized buckets submerged at both
ends. The lines were arrayed evenly around a center point. Captures on
this array were used as a comparison to the potential captures from the
main trap array and as a source of conspecific bait.
Results
No triatoma species were found in any of the traps we designed.
Three Triatoma pallidipennis were found in the pitfall traps during the
first tube trap placement, and 2 more were found the next day. Two
additional T. pallidipennis were found in another set of pitfall traps and
approximately 5 Triatoma picturata species were found by sight
around the Research Station’s Dormitories.Figure 1 - Captured T. pallidipennis in lab. Figure 2 - Buho trail, site of trapping transect.
References
1) Center for Disease Control (2013) Parasites - American Trypanosomiasis (also known as Chagas Disease). Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/chagas/disease.html
2) Guerenstein, P. G., Lorenzo, M. G., Nunez, J. A., & Lazzari, C. R. (1995) Baker's yeast, an attractant for baiting traps for chagas' disease vectors. Experientia, 51(8), 834-837.
3) Pimenta, F., Diotaiuti, L., Lutstosa, A., & Lorenzo, M. (2007). Evaluation of cultures of saccharomyces cerevisae as baits for Triatoma dimidiata and Tritoma pallidipennis. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz, 102(2), 229-231.
4) Pacheco-Tucuch, F., Ramirez-Sierra, M., Gourbiere, S., & Dumonteil, E. (2012). Public street lights increase house infestation by the chagas disease vector triatoma dimidiata. PLoS ONE, 7(4), e36207. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036207
5)World Health Organization (2013) Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis). Retrieved from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs340/en/