Mega Catch MCU800 Operation Manual

Mosquito Trap

Operation Manual

Ultra

Model MCU800

Pub. No: Canadian Version U1106

Contents Page

Important Safety Instructions 1

Introduction 2

Features of Mega-Catch ULTRA Mosquito Trap 2

Initial Set Up Instructions 3-4

What Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap Will Do 5

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

Mega-Catch Trolley 7-8

Stand Assembly Instructions 9

Mega-Catch Variable Quantity Slow CO

2

Gas Release System 10

Connecting the ULTRA to the CO2 Gas Supply 11-12

Operation of Variable Quantity Slow CO

2

Gas Release System 12-13

CO

2

Gas Suppliers 13

Operation of the Programmable Timer 14-15

Mosquito Catching Systems 16

Using the Liquid Catch Container 16

Using the Catch Bag 17

Fitting of External Skirt 18

Care of Your Trap 19-20

Replacement of U.V. Bulb 20

Mega-Catch Octenol Fragrance Strip 21

Optional Accessories 22

Maintenance and Repair of Your Trap 23-25

Removal of Timer 26

Frequently Asked Questions 27

Problem Solving 28

Specifications 28

Parts List 29

Important Safety Instructions

1

 Do not operate the Trap indoors.

 Keep children and pets away from the Trap.

 When the Trap is not in use disconnect power, turn off CO

2

gas and store the Trap

and Gas Cylinder 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.

 Before installing or removing the CO

2

Gas Regulator, always ensure that the CO

2

gas is turned off at the Gas Cylinder.

 Read and follow instructions in this operation manual carefully before operating

the Trap.

Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap should be used in conjunction with other sensible
control measures designed to manage mosquito problems:

 Eliminate standing water in low spots, ditches, gutters and similar areas.

 Empty receptacles that collect water (e.g. bird baths and pot plant saucers).

 Reduce breeding sites by keeping grass mown.

 Mosquito netting/screens can be used to provide mosquito-free areas.

 Light coloured clothing is less attractive to some mosquito species and if tightly

woven, can give some protection against biting.

 DEET is considered the most effective mosquito repellent, but should not be used

too heavily.

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 by-products 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 Mosquito Trap.

Features of Mega-Catch ULTRA Mosquito Trap

The Mega-Catch ULTRA Mosquito Trap has been designed for outdoor use only. The ULTRA
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 ULTRA 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.

The ULTRA also features the Mega-Catch Variable Quantity Slow CO

2

Gas Release System.
Use of this attractant system is entirely optional. The system enables the ULTRA to replicate
a key element of human respiration by releasing small quantities of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas
at an exponentially decaying (negative) rate over fixed intervals to produce a concentration
gradient in the air plume emanating from the lower part of the Trap. The CO2 plume will, in
optimum conditions, attract mosquitoes from a distance of up to 150 feet (45 meters).
Mosquitoes are able to navigate their way to the Trap by following the CO2 gas plume up wind.

CO

2

is a natural product and is used extensively in the beverage industry to aerate (put bubbles
into) the likes of beer, softdrinks and sparkling mineral water. CO2 is able to be purchased from
gas supply outlets throughout the U.S.A. and elsewhere (see page 13, CO2 Gas Suppliers section).

Quantities of CO2 gas released by the ULTRA can be adjusted between 5 settings by a simple
touch of the Gas Select Button on the Programmable Timer. A 20lb (9kg) CO2 Gas Cylinder
used at the recommended settings should last for up to 4 months (see page 12-13, Operation
of Variable Quantity Slow CO2 Gas Release System section).

Initial Set Up Instructions

3

Before attempting operation of your ULTRA 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 9 - 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 18 - Fitting of
External Skirt section).
Note: Failure to position the Skirt correctly will result in a NIL mosquito catch.

6. Your

ULTRA 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 16, 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 22,
Mega-Catch Octenol Fragrance Strip section). Wash your hands after this procedure
has been completed.

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 in the direction shown in the Stand Assembly
Instructions. To achieve this, hold the Trap in an upright position so that the top of the
Trap is next to the hook on the stand. Then swing the bottom of the Trap outwards
(through an arc of about 45 degrees) and you will see that the top of the Trap will fit
through the gap in the hook. This is a design feature to prevent the Trap falling off the
stand accidentally.

4

12. The ULTRA Trap comes with the Mega-Catch Variable Quantity Slow CO2 Gas Release
System. Use of this system is entirely optional (see page 10, Mega-Catch Variable

Quantity Slow CO

2

Gas Release System section). If using the Mega-Catch Variable

Quantity Slow CO

2

Gas Release System then you will first need to obtain a CO2 cylinder

(see page 13, CO

2

Gas Suppliers section). Having obtained a CO2 cylinder, connect the

Low-Pressure Gas Regulator (supplied with the Trap) to the Gas Cylinder ensuring
beforehand that the O ring on the Gas Regulator is properly in place and undamaged.
Then connect the Regulator to the Trap (see page 11, Connecting the ULTRA to the

CO

2

Gas Supply section). Slowly turn on the CO2 gas checking for leaks. Set the gas

setting using the Gas Select button on the Programmable Timer (see page 12-13,

Operation of Variable Quantity Slow CO

2

Gas Release System section). Setting #1

is low. Setting #5 is high. (NOTE: you will need to reset the gas setting if the power
is turned off).

13. Your ULTRA 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.)

14. Turn on the power. A display should appear on the face of the Timer. (If it does not,
see Page 14-15, Operation of the Programmable Timer section). Set the Timer to
"ON" for continuous running or to "AUTO" to program operating times. See Page 14­15, Operation of the Programmable Timer section for programming instructions.

15. If the U.V. Bulb inside the Trap is not on then turn it on by touching the switch on the
Programmable Timer which is marked U.V. Tube. When the Trap is operating, the Fan
should be running, the four Diode Lights should be flashing intermittently, the U.V. Bulb
should be on (unless switched off) and the Trap should click every 75-80 seconds. If
the Trap is not operating correctly then re-read these instructions or refer to page 28
Problem Solving section, or email us at [e-mail].

Installing and Siting the Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap

5

Installation of Trap:

Your Mosquito Trap comes fully assembled. To install, first follow the instructions on 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 choose to install the Trap on a Mega-Catch Trolley which can be
purchased as an optional extra (see page 7-8, Mega-Catch Trolley section).

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.

What Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap Will Do

Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap is designed to reduce mosquito populations, but it will not
permanently eliminate them. Operate the Mega-Catch 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. (NOTE: Rain will probably result in a new infestation.)

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.

NOTE: Your Mega-Catch Mosquito Trap should be used in conjunction with other sensible
control measures designed to manage mosquito problems.

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

6

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.

Trap

Prevailing

Wind Direction

Mosquito

source

Siting of Trap:

FIG 1 - Trap Positioning

7

Mega-Catch Trolley

The Mega-Catch Trolley is an optional extra for use in conjunction with the ULTRA Trap.
Assembly of the Mega-Catch Trolley is a simple procedure if you follow the directions shown
in figures 2.1 to 2.3 below:

FIG 2.1 - Trolley Assembly

When trolley assembly is complete, hang trap
from hook through fitting on top of the unit,
then connect powerplug and gas line.

4

Tighten bolt to lock handle

Chain to secure gas cylinder

Transformer

holder

2

Tighten bolts both sides
to lock frame to base

3

Insert handle
into frame

1

Insert
frame into
base unit

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8

The Mega-Catch Trolley has been designed
to hold a 20lb (9kgs) CO

2 Gas Cylinder for use

in conjunction with the ULTRA Trap.

If you wish to install a Mega-Catch Mosquito
Trap on a Mega-Catch Trolley without a CO2
Gas Cylinder in place then the handle on the
Trolley should be reversed. We also recommend
that a stability weight (e.g. a cement/cinder
block of at least 10lbs (4.5kg) be placed on the
Trolley in the manner shown in figure 2.4 below.

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

FIG. 2.2 Trolley assembly

Complete with CO2 cylinder
and transformer installed

FIG. 2.3 Trolley assembly

Complete with
weatherproof
cover fitted

FIG. 2.4 Trolley assembly option

For use without CO2 gas cylinder

Fit trolley handle
opposite to normal so
that trap unit hangs
over stability weight