Summer won’t be as much fun if you’re constantly being buzzed—or worse, bitten—by insects like flies or mosquitoes. Pests can quickly put a damper on your plans, but the best bug zappers can help keep insects at bay. Our favorite pick, Flowtron BK-40D Insect Killer, protects a full acre of space, and its weatherproof polycarbonate construction won’t rust or crack, even if it’s exposed to the elements.
The best bug zappers keep pesky bugs from spoiling your outdoor fun.
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Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
Most bug zappers draw in pests using ultraviolet (UV) light, but they may have different mechanisms for killing the insects. “There are different types of bug zappers that work differently,” explains Scott Svenheim, a certified entomologist and training manager for pest control company Truly Nolen. “Some zap the insects with an electric field around the light, while others disorient them, causing them to drop down and get stuck on a glue board.”
Additionally, certain types of bug zappers are more effective on different insects. For instance, mosquitoes—a common summertime nuisance—aren’t very attracted to UV light, so mosquito zappers tend to use other scented lures to draw in these insects.
To help you have a bug-free summer, these are the best bug zappers for your indoor and outdoor spaces.
If you’re targeting a specific type of insect—such as flies, moths or mosquitoes—it’s important to select a bug zapper that will attract those particular pests. “Most bug zappers will kill insects with positive phototaxis, meaning those attracted to light,” explains Timothy Best, technical service manager and board-certified entomologist at Rentokil Terminix. “In contrast to that, these devices do not attract or kill insects that exhibit negative phototaxis—an aversion to light—such as cockroaches.”
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You may want to do a little research before you buy to find out if the insects you’re targeting have positive phototaxis. If they don’t, you may need a model that uses another type of lure. For instance, mosquitoes aren’t very attracted to UV light, but a zapper with an octenol lure will draw them into the electric grid.
As you compare different bug zappers, you’ll see that most list a coverage area, indicating how far away it will attract bugs from. Some zappers can only cover a few hundred square feet, while larger outdoor models may be able to attract insects over a whole acre. In general, indoor bug zappers have a much smaller coverage area than outdoor models.
Just keep in mind that you’ll want to place the zapper well away from your seating area—otherwise, you’ll be attracting the bugs directly toward you. Most brands recommend locating the zapper at least 20 to 40 feet away from people.
Bug zappers are generally powered in one of three ways. Plug-in models are the most common, as they’ll have a consistent source of power to keep the bulbs lit all night long. However, the downside is that you’ll need a nearby power outlet, or if you’re planning to put the zapper out in your yard, you’ll have to run an extension cord out to it.
There are also battery-powered bug zappers that use either rechargeable or replaceable batteries. These models aren’t limited by a power cord, but you will have to periodically charge or replace the batteries.
Finally, there are some solar-powered bug zappers that draw their energy from the sun. The downside of these models is that they won’t work well on cloudy days and may run out of juice after a few hours.
As you can probably imagine, bug zappers tend to make quite a mess—especially when they’re working well—collecting hundreds of dead bugs within the lamp. You’ll need to clean out your bug zapper regularly, and some modes have pull-out drawers or removable bottoms that make it easier to remove dead bugs. These features will make the unpleasant task a little more manageable.
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Bug zappers do work to some extent, killing bugs that come in contact with their electric grid, but there are some downsides to these devices.
“They will kill insects that come into contact with the electrified grid, but more often than not, the insects being killed aren’t necessarily pests,” says Best. “These devices attract and kill night-flying insects, but do not distinguish between pests and beneficial or harmless insects. Killing harmless insects could be taking the food out of the mouths of hungry songbirds, or they could be killing beneficial pollinators.”
There’s also the matter of the bugs exploding when they hit a bug zapper’s grid: “The killing mechanism itself, electrocution, has the potential to aerosolize insects upon contact, and these bits and pieces, if you will, can become airborne or land and settle on nearby surfaces.” So if you do use one of these gadgets in your yard, be sure to place it well away from your eating and socialization areas.
If you’re specifically looking for a bug zapper to control mosquitoes, you’ll want to look for a model that includes a mosquito lure. “Most bug zappers use UV light, which is not attractive to mosquitoes,” explains Best.
To draw in mosquitoes, look for a product that includes an octenol lure, such as Flowtron BK-40D Insect Killer or Black Flag Deluxe Outdoor Bug Zapper. These scent cartridges will draw in mosquitoes, as well as biting flies, and they’ll then be killed on the bug zapper’s electric grid. Most lures need to be replaced every 30 days for maximum effectiveness.
Bug zappers typically use UV light to draw in insects, and research has found that bugs are most attracted to short wavelengths. Violet and blue hues have the shortest wavelengths on the color spectrum, which is why they’re the most popular options for bug zappers.
That said, there’s no difference in function between purple and blue bug zappers—they work the same way. So if you have a preference from an aesthetic standpoint, there’s no harm in choosing the color you like the most.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Outdoor
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