A student and professor from the University of Hyderabad (UoH) have discovered a simple yet effective way to tackle the recurring problem of acid fly attacks on campus. Their research shows that switching to LED lights in hostel rooms can significantly reduce the incidence of these pests.
Tejas Anto Kannampuzha, an Integrated MSc Physics student, collaborated with Prof. B.R. Shamanna from the School of Medical Sciences to investigate how light sources affect acid fly behavior. The study revealed that LED lights, which emit less ultraviolet radiation compared to CFL and incandescent bulbs, reduce the attraction of acid flies, leading to fewer attacks.
Acid flies, scientifically known as Paederus spp., are notorious for causing painful skin burns, known as Paederus dermatitis, when they come into contact with humans. The issue has been a long-standing nuisance for UoH hostel residents.
Tejas conducted a study involving 209 hostel students who experienced a recent outbreak of acid fly-induced dermatitis. His findings confirmed that rooms equipped with LED lights reported significantly fewer attacks than those using other light sources.
The groundbreaking research has been published in the December 2024 edition of the Indian Journal of Entomology. The Vice-Chancellor of UoH, Prof. B.J. Rao, congratulated Tejas and Prof. Shamanna on their achievement and urged them to further demonstrate how different types of light attract these flies.
This discovery offers a cost-effective and practical solution for reducing acid fly attacks in hostels, simply by replacing traditional bulbs with LED lights. The findings could also inspire similar measures in other institutions and residential areas facing similar pest issues.
