Sylvania Blacklight UV-A T8 G13 15W – insect lamp, 437 mm, 350–368 nm

UV-A 365 nm—the standard for insect traps

Insects see ultraviolet radiation that is invisible to the human eye. The UV-A 365 nm wavelength is particularly effective at attracting **flies, mosquitoes, and other flying insects** to the trap. Most professional insect traps (restaurants, bakeries, food processing facilities, and household models) use exactly these 15W or 20W T8 blacklight fluorescent tubes.

Requires a choke or electronic ballast

This is a conventional fluorescent tube, not an LED. To operate, it requires either a **conventional choke + starter** or an **electronic ballast**. Most insect traps have a built-in choke configuration, so the lamp is connected directly to the holders.

Other applications

Although insect traps are the most common application, this UV-A blacklight lamp is also used for:

• Curing gel nail polish—home use and beauty salons
• Photopolymerization—curing UV-curable materials
• Diazo printing presses—older printing technologies
• Mineral identification—geological samples and collectors' tools
• Disco lighting and themed parties—making fluorescent colors and clothing glow
• Forensics—detecting certain biological markers

UV-A vs. UV-C—an important distinction

UV radiation is divided into three wavelength categories, each with very different applications:

• UV-A (320–400 nm)—"blacklight": insect traps, disco lighting, photopolymerization. This lamp belongs to this category.
• UV-B (280–320 nm): radiation that causes sunburn, terrarium use
• UV-C (200–280 nm)—"germicidal": air and water disinfection, killing viruses and bacteria

Do not use this UV-A lamp for disinfection—you need germicidal lamps specifically marked as UV-C, which are available as a separate product.

Safety—UV radiation exposure

Although UV-A is significantly safer than UV-C, prolonged and repeated exposure can be harmful:

• Do not stare directly at the lamp for long periods
• Always use the lamp in a luminaire or trap—never hold it directly in your hands
• In professional use, follow occupational safety guidelines and wear safety glasses if necessary

Service life and replacement cycle in insect traps

UV fluorescent tubes have a shorter service life than conventional fluorescent tubes—UV radiation wears down the lamp's phosphor coating. The typical service life is approximately 8,000–10,000 hours, but for the sake of the insect trap's effectiveness, the lamp should be replaced **annually**, even if it is still lit. The old lamp will still light up, but its UV output may be halved, meaning it no longer attracts insects as effectively.

Installation checklist

1. Check that the trap has a T8 G13 base (not T5 G5)
2. Check that the lamp's length of 437 mm fits the trap
3. Check that the trap's choke or ballast is compatible with 15W power
4. Turn off the power before replacing—do not touch the lamp glass with your fingers (grease can shorten its service life)
5. Install the lamp by twisting it into place in the base and then turn on the power