Abstract:
A semiochemical is a chemical substance or mixture that carries a message. These
chemicals acts as messengers for members of the same species or in some cases other
species. It is usually used in the field of chemical ecology to encompass pheromones,
allomones, kairomones, attractants and repellents. Semiochemicals are used as
increasingly important components of integrated pest management strategies for a
growing number of insect species. Traps baited with attractant are being considered as
an alternative to prevent the usage of chemical insecticide, which is hazardous and
toxic. In an effort to minimise the usage of chemical insecticide, an assessment of
traps baited with attractant was conducted. This study was carried out at several
locations in rural and urban area of Kuala Terengganu which include shop, hostel,
house, tyre shop, petrol station, construction site-1, construction site-2, shop lots,
abandoned house and abandoned shop, Pasar Payang, Chinatown, temple, shop lots,
petrol station, Pangsapuri Jernih, school and abandoned house. A total of 732 adult
mosquitoes were collected. Among them, 471 mosquitoes were collected in traps
baited with attractant whereas, 261 mosquitoes in control traps. From this study, Cu/ex
sp. were captured the most as compared to Aedes sp., suggesting that the attractant is
more effective towards Cu/ex sp. More female mosquitoes were captured compared to
the male mosquitoes which indicates that female mosquitoes are attracted to the
attractant since the attractant mimics human odor and the female mosquito is in search
for host (blood meal). As a conclusion, this study indicates that traps baited with
attractant is a suitable strategy to control the population of mosquito in urban and rural
area.