Studies have shown that octenol, when combined with carbon dioxide, is highly attractive to many species of no-see-ums and biting midges.

American Biophysics offers octenol, which when used in conjunction with carbon dioxide, enhances catch rates for the Mosquito Magnet™. Octenol (1-octen-3-ol) is a naturally occuring by-product that comes from plants and some animals (pheromone and kairomone) such as oxen and cows, which ingest large amounts of vegetable matter. It is used as an additional attractant or accelerant for no-see-ums. Octenol has been shown to increase no-see-ums catch rates three to four times.

The octenol is in the form of a packet with a peel off top that is dropped into the Mosquito Magnet. It is recommended that the packet be replaced every three weeks.