However, a better question to ask is whether zappers are effective at killing the most annoying bugs. Unfortunately, many biting bugs are not attracted to the UV light coming from bug zappers, mosquitoes and biting gnats included.
Traditional bug zappers will kill a large number of harmless insects. In fact, they may even kill a larger number of beneficial insects than harmful ones. Mosquitoes in particular are attracted to carbon dioxide in your breath and water vapor in your sweat rather than ultraviolet light from zappers. However, there are now bug zappers that emit both UV light as well as carbon dioxide. One final consideration is to keep zappers well away from any areas where humans will congregate for longer periods of time, or any food preparation areas.
Electrocuted bugs will turn into a mist that may contain parts of dead insects for up to 7 feet from the zapper.
This mist can become contaminated with germs that feed off of the dead insect parts, which may then be inhaled or settle on humans or other animals. While bug zappers are not an entirely effective means of controlling harmful biting insects, another option is to keep the bugs away altogether. Since mosquitoes lay eggs in water, you should eliminate all sources of standing water , such as watering cans or old tires.
Cover any rain barrels, and if you have a pond, stock it with fish that will eat the mosquito larvae. Commercial pesticides are available that kill mosquito larvae and adults.
Municipalities often spray pesticides, particularly malathion , on a large scale in the spring and summer to eliminate mosquito populations. DEET repels most ticks , mosquitoes and other biting pests. Be sure to read product labels for usage directions. Another means of personal protection from biting and flying insects is citronella oil. Citronella oil is a product of several types of plants.
It is an effective mosquito repellant in high concentrations, but individual plants do not make enough oil to be effective. Citronella can also be found in candles and torch oil -- both meant to be burned outside.
If you like citronella, citronella wristbands give you an easy way to protect yourself on a personal basis. Many people erect Purple Martin birdhouses or bat houses in the hopes that these animals will eat lots of mosquitoes.
While Purple Martins and bats eat huge quantities of insects, mosquitoes are not a significant portion of their diet. Sign up for our Newsletter! Mobile Newsletter banner close. Mobile Newsletter chat close. Mobile Newsletter chat dots. Mobile Newsletter chat avatar. Mobile Newsletter chat subscribe. Home Improvement. Outdoor Living. How Bug Zappers Work. Housing - Exterior casing that holds the parts The housing is usually made of plastic or electrically grounded metal and may be shaped liked a lantern , a cylinder or a big rectangular cube.
Female mosquitoes the mosquitoes who bite us are hardwired to sense the attractive signals that our bodies emit. They do not care about zapper lights. When we exhale, we emit CO2, which a female mosquito can detect from far away. As she flies closer, our naturally occuring body-odor-chemistry helps her confirm that we are a source of blood. Unfortunately, bug zappers don't do the same things humans can-- which is why mosquitoes aren't attracted to them!
Turns out, carbon dioxide and body odor chemistry are elements we can't control.
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