台灣鋏蠓防治研究計畫執行多年，受限於飼養技術研究進展有限。過去研究也多以實驗室理論為主，缺少田間試驗驗證，致未能落實推動。本團隊執行科技部 110 年度 「台灣鋏蠓(Forcipomyia taiwana)全方位防治技術研究」研究計畫，經科學博物館館方同意本團隊於科學博物館植物園執行計畫，執行迄今已略見成效，執行期間內未再接獲民眾投訴。於111年度再與科學博物館館方合作，擬繼續評估於植物園防治策略並修正擴大試驗範圍至博物館區，總目標為落實台灣鋏蠓發生熱區的防治，訂定標準防治作業，以簡便有效的方法永續經營台灣鋏蠓的防治工作，做為其他地區防治台灣鋏蠓的參考。 Forcipomyia taiwana is one of the most nuisance blood-sucking midges in Taiwan. The study of sustainable alternatives for the managements of F. taiwana is urgent. This project conducted a F. taiwana survey in the National Museum of Natural Science (Taichung) from July 2022 to July 2023. The positive rates of 85 soil samples (larva) and 129 emergence traps (adult) were 47.1% and 36.4% respectively. These results provide valuable environmental information for larval habitats reduction and pesticide application to reduce F. taiwana density. For example, the average density of F. taiwana kept low as 3.7 adults (20 minutes leg survey) for six consecutive months after spraying granular insecticide for larval control in July and August 2022. In contrast, the population density of F. taiwana in high endemic area Dakeng began to increase significantly in April and reached a peak in mid-June, with over 700-800 adults (20 minutes survey) and larvae can be easily harvested in blue-green algae growing under the bamboo forest in Dakeng area. In addition, the captured rates of L-102 light trap for F. taiwana adults at night and during the day were high as 81% and 71% respectively in laboratory. It can be further evaluated as a survey or control strategy in field with less light influence. Moreover, electric fan can also effectively capture F. taiwana adults in high-density areas; however, it might only be an excellent auxiliary control technology in limited local area. In total 75,738 arthropod samples were collected in 40 light trapping surveys conducted from August 2021 to July 2023, of which Ceratopogonidae and Forcipomyia insects accounted for 9.5% and 1.3% respectively. By using morphological and DNA barcode identification, the trapped Ceratopogonidae include 22 species of Forcipomyia, 5 species of Dasyhelea, 2 species of Culicoides, and 5 species of Atrichopogon. The current studies also suggested that geosmin and Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) have partial egg-laying trapping effect and the two vanilla plants showed no repellent activities for F. taiwana. In summary, the results of density investigation by using questionnaire surveillance, light trap (adult) or soil survey (larva) are all consistent with that of leg survey and can be evaluated as alternatives for F. taiwana density monitoring. Moreover, no complaint regarding biting midge was received from the general public during F. taiwana outbreak season in 2022~2023, confirming the achievement of the current project.
