Electric fly traps: advantages and disadvantages
Electric fly traps, also known as “bug zappers,” are devices that use an electrical current to kill insects. All electric fly traps have the same basic design in which a square or sometimes lantern-shaped box contains a light bulb to attract insects and houses a transformer and a double layer of electrified metal wire mesh. The insect flies through the gaps in the mesh and completes the circuit on contact. The error is “turned off” and removed immediately.
There are electric fly traps that can be used both indoors and outdoors, however it is important that you choose the right insect zapper for your purpose. An outdoor model should not be used indoors as it could be dangerous. Here are some advantages and disadvantages of using electric fly traps:
Electric fly traps leave minimal mess, unlike other types of fly and insect removal. Insect repellents, for example, leave insect carcasses all over the house and release chemicals into the air. While these are considered safe when used correctly, you may not want to expose your family to these chemicals. Fly strips are another alternative to bug zappers, but they’re unsightly and no one wants to touch the strips to get rid of the insect corpses stuck to the tape. Indoor and some outdoor bug zappers have a collection bin that dead bugs fall into once they’ve been killed.
Electric fly traps are reusable, unlike sprays and strips, which need to be replaced frequently. Indoor bug zappers are also much more attractive than fly strips, which most people wouldn’t want guests to see (and in fact, would rather not see themselves!). Many bug zappers are designed to look like lanterns and can blend into a home or patio décor.
One downside to electric fly traps is that they may not attract all types of insects. This is not a problem if flies are the main problem, but if you also want to attract mosquitoes, not all bug zappers will work. This is because mosquitoes are not attracted to light like other flying insects. However, there are models of bug zappers that emit a substance called octenol, which attracts mosquitoes.
Another issue that may concern some is that because bug zappers tend to attract certain insects, they can create an imbalance in the surrounding environment when used outdoors. There is no concrete evidence to show that this is absolutely the case, but it is a concern for some. This isn’t necessarily a huge concern, as many people only use outdoor bug zappers for backyard parties and other outdoor social gatherings. Indoor electric fly traps do not cause this problem.
Electric fly traps are an effective way to control flies, gnats and other annoying flying insects. When used indoors, the effectiveness of a bug zapper can be enhanced by placing it in areas where high bug traffic is observed. This is because the effectiveness of a bug zapper depends on an insect sensing the light and being attracted to the device to be “killed”.
In general, electric fly traps are a solid investment for those who have a persistent problem, whether inside or outside the home. They are reusable, effective, can blend into a home’s indoor or outdoor environment, and eliminate much of the “yuck” factor when it comes to eliminating flies and other flying insects.