UoH Student Develops Solution to Combat Acid Fly Attacks in Hostels
HYDERABAD: Tejas Anto Kannampuzha, a student of the Integrated MSc Physics programme at the University of Hyderabad (UoH), has developed a solution to address the longstanding problem of acid fly (Paederus spp.) attacks in university hostels.
Working in collaboration with Prof. B.R. Shamanna from the School of Medical Sciences, the study has been published in the Indian Journal of Entomology. Kannampuzha explored the relationship between lighting types and the frequency of these attacks, according to a statement.
Acid flies, commonly referred to as rove beetles, are nocturnal insects known to cause Paederus dermatitis. This condition, triggered by the toxin pederin, leads to painful skin burns and irritation upon contact. Outbreaks of this nature are a frequent nuisance in tropical regions, including the UoH campus.
In his research, Tejas studied 209 hostel residents during an outbreak of Paederus dermatitis from April to July 2022. The study tried to understand how ultraviolet-A (UV-A) radiation emitted by different light sources influenced fly activity. Results indicated that LED lights, which produce less UV-A radiation than CFLs or incandescent bulbs, were linked to fewer acid fly encounters. Among 41 hostel rooms reporting fly-related issues, those using CFLs experienced the highest number of attacks, which is 75.61 per cent, while rooms with LED lights recorded far fewer incidents of 19.51 per cent.
