The Science of Skeeter Beating

🔬 UV-A Light & Mosquito Attraction

Mosquitoes exhibit phototactic responses to specific wavelengths of ultraviolet light, particularly in the UV-A range (315-400nm). Research has demonstrated that certain wavelengths are significantly more effective at attracting mosquitoes than others.

Key Findings

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  Optimal Wavelength Range: 365-405nm, with peak effectiveness around 370-395nm
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  UV-A Light Sensitivity: Mosquitoes possess photoreceptors sensitive to UV-A radiation, which plays a role in host-seeking and navigation behaviors
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  LED Technology: Modern UV-LED technology has proven effective in mosquito attraction devices

Species-Specific Responses

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  Aedes aegypti (Yellow fever mosquito): Peak attraction at approximately 400nm
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  Anopheles species (Malaria vectors): Peak attraction at approximately 370nm
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  Culex species (Common house mosquito): Peak attraction at approximately 370nm

⚡ PWM Pulse Modulation Research

Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is a technique that rapidly switches LEDs on and off at specific frequencies. Research has shown that PWM can significantly enhance mosquito attraction compared to continuous illumination.

Proposed Mechanisms

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  Visual Flicker Detection: Mosquitoes may possess flicker fusion frequencies that make pulsed light more visually stimulating
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  Movement Simulation: Pulsed light may simulate movement or dynamic targets, triggering approach behaviors
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  Enhanced Contrast: PWM creates temporal contrast that may be more detectable to mosquito photoreceptors

📱 iPhone Display Limitations

Understanding the technical constraints of smartphone displays is essential for setting realistic expectations about what SkeeterBeater can and cannot do.

Technical Constraints

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  RGB Display Technology: iPhones use RGB (Red, Green, Blue) LED or OLED displays capable of reproducing wavelengths from approximately 400-700nm
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  No True UV Output: Cannot emit genuine UV-A wavelengths (315-400nm)
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  Simulation Only: UV wavelengths must be approximated using visible light combinations

Our Color Approximations

SkeeterBeater uses carefully selected RGB values to simulate the appearance of UV-A light as perceived by humans:

Target Wavelength	Hex Code	Use
395nm (Near-UV)	#6B0099	Racket mode primary
370nm (UV-A)	#4400AA	Lantern accent
365nm (UV-A)	#5500BB	Full screen mode
450nm (Blue)	#0066CC	Bug zapper blue

🎯 Realistic Effectiveness Context

Scientific honesty is important to us. Here's what research actually says about UV light and mosquito control.

What Really Attracts Mosquitoes

Female mosquitoes (the ones that bite) are primarily attracted to:

UV light provides supplementary attraction but is considered a secondary cue compared to these primary attractants.