Hello!
Has anyone used alternatives to chloroform/ethyl acetate vapours, such as acetone-free nail polish remover or simply ethanol, to kill trapped mosquitoes which may still be alive when collected? Any recommendation? Many thanks to whoever will reply.
I use ether or acetone nail polish remover. Ether works best for me, but I assume you don't want any fumes.
Thanks Donka! Regarding the nail polish remover, do you use it in a killing jar sort of container? Are your mosquitoes in a collection bag ? (I am using a BG-Pro trap).
I put a swab soaked in acetone and the bag with the insects (Diptera, Coleoptera, Lepidoptera) in a glass container. Usually after about 2-3 hours they are dead, but I process them after 24 hours. I noticed that acetone changes the color of the elytra of Coleoptera insects, but ether does not.
I use ethyl acetate. Its fumes are less toxic to humans than those of the other agents, and specimens will remain limp/soft if they are left in an ethyl acetate killing jar for several days.
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