Mega Catch MCP600 Operation Manual

Mosquito Trap

Operation Manual

Premier

Model MCP600

Contents Page

Important Safety Instructions 1

Introduction 2

Features of Mega-Catch PREMIER Mosquito Trap 2

Initial Set Up Instructions 3

What Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap Will Do 4

Installing and Siting the Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap 5-6

Stand Assembly Instructions 7

Operation of the Programmable Timer 8-9

Mosquito Catching Systems 10

Using the Liquid Catch Container 10

Using the Catch Bag 11

Fitting of External Skirt 12-13

Care of Your Trap 13-14

Replacement of U.V. Bulb 14

Mega-Catch Octenol Fragrance Strip 15

Optional Accessories 16

Maintenance and Repair of Your Trap 17-19

Disposal of Nickel-Cadmium Batteries 20

Frequently Asked Questions 21

Problem Solving 22

Specifications 22

Parts List 23

Important Safety Instructions

1

 Keep children and pets away from the Trap.

 When the Trap is not in use disconnect power, store the Trap indoors and out of

reach of children.

 Always disconnect power before cleaning, servicing or inspecting the inside of the

Trap.

 To avoid injury from the High Speed Fan inside the Trap, always disconnect power

before opening the Door. Keep the Door locked and remove the Key while the Trap
is operating.

 Plug the power cord into a properly grounded electrical outlet protected from weather.

 Do not allow the Trap, transformer, power cord or plug to be immersed in water.

 Do not operate the Trap with a damaged transformer, power cord or plug.

 Do not use any extension cord other than the extension cord supplied with the Trap.

 Ensure power cords are placed carefully to avoid causing a tripping hazard.

 Ensure the Trap is properly installed in accordance with this operation manual.

 Read and follow instructions in this operation manual carefully before operating the

Trap.

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Introduction

2

Mosquitoes have been described as the most dangerous creatures on Earth.

Aedes mosquitoes may carry yellow fever and dengue fever. Culex mosquitoes may carry several
strains of encephalitis (including St. Louis Encephalitis, Eastern Equine Encephalitis and West Nile
Virus), and Anopheles mosquitoes may carry malaria.

Male mosquitoes do not bite. The real risk is from female mosquitoes which bite when in search
of blood to provide protein for their eggs.

Scientific research over the past 50 years has shown that female mosquitoes find their prey using
a combination of sensory cues including light, shape, color, heat, vibration, sweat and other by­products of human activity.

Using that research and with the benefit of extensive field testing (including tests by the United
States Department of Agriculture in Gainesville, Florida), Mega-Catch has developed one of the
worlds most advanced mosquito traps: the Mega-Catch PREMIER Mosquito Trap.

Features of Mega-Catch PREMIER Mosquito Trap

The Mega-Catch PREMIER Mosquito Trap has been designed for indoor or outdoor use.
(NOTE: when operating the PREMIER Trap indoors, remove the Mega-Catch Octenol Fragrance
Strip.)

The PREMIER can operate unattended for long periods. It can be programmed to start and stop
according to peak mosquito activity in your area. It features an electronically controlled diode
lighting system that produces intermittent light at oscillating frequencies selected to coincide
with spectral sensitivity peaks for many mosquito species. It also features a low-intensity U.V.
or black light bulb.

Mosquitoes attracted to the PREMIER by visual and other cues seek to land on and probe specially
designed surfaces and enter the Trap where they are collected in the Catch Bag or Liquid Catch
Container.

Initial Set Up Instructions

3

Before attempting operation of your PREMIER Trap, follow these instructions:

1. Remove the Trap from the carton.

2. Remove the box containing the Stand from the carton.

3. Assemble the Stand (see Page 7 - Stand Assembly Instructions section).

4. Remove the box marked Accessories from the base of the carton.

5. Fit the External Skirt to the outside of the Trap by sliding the skirt on from the top of the
Trap so that the opening is directly in front of the Door (see Page 12 - Fitting of External

Skirt section).
Note: Failure to position the Skirt correctly will result in a NIL mosquito catch.

6. Your PREMIER Trap has two mosquito collection methods: a dry-catch system using a
Catch Bag and a wet catch system using a Catch Container. In most circumstances the
wet-catch system offers superior catch performance to the dry-catch system. The dry­catch system using the Catch Bag is better for mosquito species identification.

7. If you wish to catch mosquitoes using the Catch Bag, then attach the Catch Bag to the
base of the Fan inside the Trap. The Catch Bag has an elastic top to facilitate attachment
(see Page 10 - Mosquito Catching Systems section).

8. If you wish to catch mosquitoes using the wet-catch system, fill the Liquid Catch Container
two-thirds full with fresh water. Add 2 or 3 drops of liquid detergent / soap to break the
surface tension of the water. Also add 3 or 4 teaspoons of a non-diet (sugar-based) soft
drink. Then place the Liquid Catch Container in the Trap using the locating feet on its base.

9.. Remove the Mega-Catch Octenol Fragrance Strip from its pouch being careful not to
touch the exposed holes on its surface. Place the strip inside the Trap (see Page 15 -
Mega-Catch Octenol Fragrance Strip section).
Wash your hands after this procedure has been completed.

4

What Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap Will Do

10. Reinstall the Door by locating the base of the Door in the Trap and then pushing firmly
until Door clicks into place. Lock the Door using one of the two Keys provided with the
Trap and then remove the Key. (NOTE: Removing and reinstalling the door is designed to
require a reasonable amount of force to make it difficult for children.)

11. Hang the Trap from the hook on the Stand as shown in the Stand Assembly Instructions.

12. Your PREMIER Trap comes with a low-voltage transformer and a 60-foot (18-meter) low­voltage extension cord with weatherproof connectors. Plug the extension cord into the
Trap connection turning the connector clockwise until tight. Plug the extension cord into
the transformer cable turning the connector clockwise until tight.
Then plug into the power supply.
(NOTE: The connectors are designed to be a tight fit to ensure that they are weatherproof.)

13. Turn on the power. A display should appear on the face of the Timer. (If it does not, see
Page 8 - Operation of the Programmable Timer section).
Set the Timer to "ON" for continuous running or to "AUTO" to program operating times.
See Page 8 - Operation of the Programmable Timer section for programming instructions.

14. When the Trap is operating, the Fan should be running, the four diode lights should be
flashing intermittently and the U.V. Bulb light should be on. If the Trap is not operating
correctly then re-read these instructions or refer to Page 22 - Problem Solving section
or email us at [e-mail].

Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap is designed to reduce mosquito populations. Operate the Mega­Catch Mosquito Trap daily for several weeks. Over this time you should notice a decline in
mosquito numbers. This means your Trap is doing its job.

You may discontinue operation of the Trap once your mosquito problem is under control. When
mosquitoes enter your area again (probably from a new infestation after rain), begin operating
your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap again.

The Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap is not designed to compete with humans in close proximity eg:
at a barbecue. If you are planning an outdoor function, operate the Trap for several days before
the function

Installing and Siting the Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap

5

Installation of Trap:

Your Mosquito Trap comes fully assembled. To install, first follow the instructions under Page 3

- Initial Set Up Instructions section.

The Initial Set Up Instructions assume that you have decided to install your Mega-Catch Mosquito
Trap on the Stand that is supplied with the Trap.

Alternatively you may decide to hang the Trap from a tree or a fixed post using a chain, nylon
rope or wire connected to the attachment hole at the top of the Trap. We recommen a height of
around 3 feet (1 meter) from the ground to the top of the Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap. However,
you may need to adjust the Traps height depending on the type of mosquitoes you are catching.

Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap is supplied with a 60-foot (18-meter) low-voltage extension
cord with weatherproof fittings. To avoid the cord posing a tripping hazard or being damaged,
(e.g. by a lawn mower) we recommend that, if possible, it be placed 2-3 inches (50-75 mm)
underground. This can be easily achieved by using a spade which is inserted into the ground and
moved backwards and forwards to create a shallow slit trench into which the cord can be pushed
before the ground is replaced by standing on the top of the slit trench.

Trap

Prevailing

Wind Direction

Mosquito

source

Siting of Trap:

For the best performance from your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap, first determine the source of
the mosquito nuisance (Mosquitoes breed in wet areas like streams, marshland,

FIG 1 - Trap Positioning

6

wooded areas and gardens). Then use these rules to site the Trap:

Rule 1: Place the Trap between the mosquito source and areas of human activity.

Rule 2: Place the Trap as far away from people and as close to the mosquito source as possible.

(Attract them to the Trap and not to you.)

Rule 3: Place the Trap upwind of the mosquito source but only if you can comply with Rule 1.

(Mosquitoes sometimes use the wind to navigate.)

Rule 4: Place the Trap in a predominantly shaded area. (Most mosquitoes avoid direct sunlight.)

Rule 5: Place the Trap in a location protected from rain and strong wind. (Mosquitoes dont fly

in strong winds.)

Rule 6: If severe weather conditions are predicted then store the Trap out of the weather.

For maximum stability, point the small "U" shaped leg at the back of the Stand into the prevailing
wind and pin the base to the ground using the wire staples supplied with the Stand.

While your Mega-Catch Stand is zinc-plated and powder-coated, when not in use, we recommend
that it be stored out of the weather.