Patent ID: 8420070

Claim:
A method for controlling insects, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing an insect bait adapted to attract the insects, and to effect the insects to feed on said insect bait, mediated by an olfactory-cue-based attractant, wherein said insect bait lacks an active visual-cue element for a biting-fly sugar-source-foraging behavior-mode, said insect bait including: (i) a feeding stimulant, in a suitable amount to serve as an insect meal, said feeding stimulant including a sugar; (ii) an effective amount of an olfactory-cue-emitting attractant that is active for blood-sucking insects which are sugar-feeding, said effective amount exceeding an odor threshold associated with said blood-sucking insects, wherein said attractant includes a flower extract, a fruit extract, a sugar-rich plant-organ extract, or at least one component thereof; and (iii) a lethal concentration, in said insect meal, of an oral and/or contact toxin toxic to the insects; and (b) applying a sufficient amount of said insect bait to a designated geographic area, lacking an active visual-cue element for a biting-fly sugar-source-foraging behavior-mode, in order to control said blood-sucking insects.