Light traps are a means of collecting adult mosquitoes by using their attraction to light. The CDC light trap was developed to replace the New Jersey light trap, which weighed 15 lbs (6.8 kg) and required a 110-volt battery, which limited its use in many field settings^[1]. It is a portable device that consists of a net that is hung below a downdraft fan. The fan pulls flying insects inside that were attracted to  a light source placed above the fan. 

CDC light traps are useful for the collection of mosquitoes^[2] and sand flies^[3], and can be used in studies of arboviruses and for taxonomic studies. In some settings, light traps can be used to replace human landing catches (HLCs) for determination of the human biting rate^[4]. Whilst HLCs are the most direct means of establishing these rates, they are labour-intensive and their use raises ethical concerns.

 Mosquito Trapping

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention & David J. Spencer Museum. Mosquito Light Trap. 2015 January. Available at:
   https://www.cdc.gov/museum/history/mosquito.html
   
   
2. Sriwichai P, Karl S, Samung Y, Sumruayphol S, Kiattibutr K, Payakkapol A, Mueller I, Yan G, Cui L, Sattabongkot J. Evaluation of CDC light traps for mosquito surveillance in a malaria endemic area on the Thai-Myanmar border. Parasites & vectors. 2015 Dec;8(1):636.
   https://parasitesandvectors.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13071-015-1225-3
   
   
3. da Silva AA, Rebêlo JM, Carneiro BF, Castro MP, de Sousa de Almeida M, Ponte IS, Aguiar JV, Silva FS. Exploiting the Synergistic Effect of Kairomones and Light-Emitting Diodes on the Attraction of Phlebotomine Sand Flies to Light Traps in Brazil. Journal of medical entomology. 2019 May 23.
   https://academic.oup.com/jme/advance-article/doi/10.1093/jme/tjz073/5497942
   
   
4. Fornadel CM, Norris LC, Norris DE. Centers for Disease Control light traps for monitoring Anopheles arabiensis human biting rates in an area with low vector density and high insecticide-treated bed net use. The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene. 2010 Oct 5;83(4):838-42.
   https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2946753/