“Once I couldn’t sleep all night because of mosquito bites…” We guess you know this story. It goes on the same way: itching, swelling of the bitten area, big red stains, and the state of drowsiness for the whole day. So what does it mean? — You still don’t have a bug zapper that can solve this pest problem! We have prepared electronic bug zapper reviews covering TOP 12 best mosquito electronic zappers.
How do bug zappers work? They represent an ultraviolet lamp surrounded by electric grid. UV-irradiation attracts insects and when they are drawing nearer, they are facing an electric shock.
Zappers are divided into 2 main categories: indoor and outdoor units. The former attracts insects by ultraviolet irradiation while the latter also include special attractants and baits.
Table of contents
An outdoor zapper works in combination with baits and attracts insects by human breathing, warmth, and smell imitation though there are units which can work without baits. Lured by an attractant and ultraviolet, naïve insects fly closer and get their electrical discharge. Done!
Such zappers have advantages in comparison with other products since they allow to cover rather a great territory and divert insects’ attention from a person. In 7-10 days, the number of flying insects considerably decreases. The results will be evident in 5-6 weeks after the start of the device’s operation.
The Flowtron Insect KIller is a #1 best seller in a category of bug zappers, with over 9900 customer reviews. This product has an additional electronic insect control and a working radius of 1 acre.
It’s a good choice for a large patio or deck and a modest lawn, for example. It can’t be clogged. It should not be used closer than 25m to the place of human activities, locate it as far from a house as possible, this can mean using extension cords. Flowtron BK-40D Insect Killer is much more effective than its chemical analogs.
The grid cannot be blocked up, so fire is excluded due to short circuit. The killer has a protective outer frame serving as the protection for children, pets, and birds. Also, it is supplied with a four-level action mechanism.
Besides, this 40W powered unit is energy-efficient, so will not definitely influence your electricity bills. The set includes a plate for UV-activation of a bait.
Below, you will find some helpful tips on the use of this product:
Last update on 2023-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Flowtron BK-40D: FIND THE BEST PRICE
The zapper can control areas up to 2 acres. It may be set up both vertically and horizontally. It’s a commercial bug zapper so it can be used outdoor or at dumpsters & trash receptacles.
The unit is equipped with luminous UV-tubes attracting insects and a metal grid with electrical tension 1200V. Flowtron FC-8800 is universal and may be used both outdoors (with bait) and indoors (without bait).
Customers give a lot of tips in their feedbacks:
In practice, many customers don’t like a loud sound which occurs when an insect flies into a metal grid. However, as time passes they become accustomed to this drawback and cease to consider it like this: “Oh ya, it’s also loud. Really loud. Like machine gun staccato bug bursting happy feeling loud. The first time you see an entire cloud of gnats fly into this thing and go off like microwave popcorn, you’ll wonder why you didn’t buy it sooner”.
Last update on 2023-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Flowtron FC-8800: Check the current price
Bug zappers may be portable devices which can be easily transported, or large-sized units ensuring the high level of mosquito mortality. For your convenience, we have divided the reviews depending on their indoor or outdoor use.
The bug zapper reviews include the everyone’s favorite racket, a powerful outdoor unit of a well-known Flowtron brand, bug zapper bulbs, garden zappers, a device intended for camping, as well as stylish zappers, one of which operates as a trap with a fan sucking insects.
A couple of the products are designed specifically for children’s room to simultaneously amuse and protect the babies. Have a look and choose your best bet.
When people say that something does not work, they may probably unaware of application instructions or maybe they do not follow the rules. Remember, any device has its own distinctive features, therefore, let’s have a look at 10 tips on how to choose the best bug zapper.
1. The location Consider the total area and how you are going to use a bug zapper – indoors or outdoors. If you are planning to turn on the eliminator outdoors, it must have the protection from rain and a sufficient radius of action (such characteristics are described in the instruction).
The greater is the area, the stronger the device you need. Set it not less than 15 meters from your house and 2-3 meters above ground. In this case, the unit will beat off the attacks of insects and serve as a reliable barrier. Keep in mind that bug zappers filled with chemical attractants are not recommended for indoor use as this can pose health hazards.
2. Consider the features of your region and the total number of insects. Big and permanent clouds of flying blood-suckers are observed usually nearby marshes and shadowy bushy places, so you may require several traps to be quite calm.
3. The type of insects. Identify the type of flying insects in your region. The identification will help to choose the most effective kind of baits (only for outdoors).
4. Day/night working mode. Bug killers work day and night, but they are more effective during hours of darkness – so you may leave it working throughout the night without any doubt!
5. The climate. The attractant acts depending on the characteristic features of the climate, as well as the direction and strength of the wind. If your territory is surrounded by protective plants and buildings, a trap supplied with bait may turn out to be rather ineffective.
6. The price of expandable materials. The long-term operation of an outdoor zapper requires materials (tablets with baits, sticky bands and so on). If you are not ready to spend some extra money, then use other products, for example, mosquito foggers.
7. The power supply needed by the zapper. Consider the type of the device’s supply which suits your needs best. You may choose solar batteries, accumulators or electricity.
8. Bulbs. The number of bulbs and their power allow you to use the light trap with the most efficiency.
9. Portability. A light and compact unit is easy to take with you on a trip or transport from one place to another nearby your house (summer-house, terrace, garden and so on).
10. The price. Sometimes, a zapper’s price may indicate the quality of the product. In practice, very cheap products are suspicious as they may be broken easily or turn out to be quite powerless against massive attacks of mosquitoes while more expensive and proved zappers cope with the task perfectly.
Spring comes and so does mosquito season. Don’t hope for electronic repellers since they may not always work as we expect. According to BBC research on ultrasound mosquito repellents, “there is no scientific evidence whatsoever that ultrasound repels mosquitoes”.
And what about zappers? Yes, bug zappers are extremely productive. Overnight, a single Electric Chair For Insects is capable of killing about 10,000 insects, but as Jonathan Day, Associate Professor of Entomology with the University of Florida says, thousands of beneficial insects are the main victims of the electric devices, while there only a few dead mosquitoes.
Different scientific studies showed from 0.22% to 4% of female mosquitoes killed in particular. It worth noting that the bug zapper effectivity problem largely relates to the outdoor use of such products. When used indoors, bug zappers produce more tangible results.
What about the reviews of the customers claiming to have found many mosquitoes in their zappers? The scientists will disappoint us here as well by declaring that many people can’t tell mosquitoes apart from other insects which are very similar to mosquitoes but are not biting midges.
Zappers are great for dealing with all flying insects, which annoy those who live near the inland and coastal natural and man-made bodies of water, though.
Scientists from the University of California suggest two measures to enhance the performance of bug zappers. First, place the unit on top of a large sheet of paper covered with a sticky substance. Second, attach a pheromone lure on the zapper. This will help attract and kill more pests.
Indoor zappers resemble ordinary flashlights, but they are supplied with an ultraviolet lamp illuminating the narrow visible range of light. Functioning during hours of darkness, it attracts flying insects.
As soon as the pests have moved closer, they are captured and killed by electric shock. Such devices are simple and safe to use, however, typically zappers need maintenance because they should be cleaned and dusted regularly as well as kept away from moisture and rain.
The electric grid is protected safely from touching outside and the light cannot harm human sight.
Indoor insect zappers are 100% non-toxic and work without chemical baits. Therefore, they never cause your anxiety or bad sleep. Small zappers will suit a small flat. Place units in the vicinity of the insects’ source, for example, near a window or at the balcony.
Remember to consider the distance to the place of your rest. If the house is large, locate several units and sleep calmly. We have studied the best-sellers in a category of home insect zappers and picked several units. You will find their pros and cons are in our Product Review.
The key advantage of this mosquito zapper is a coverage area amounting to 5,000 sq. feet. Supplied with 2 UV-lamps which can attract gnats, mosquitoes and flies by their lights – like all bug zappers, it works better at night but can attract insects in the daytime too.
Ultraviolet lights provide an irresistible lure for pests. Upon contact with the metal grid, flying insects are killed instantly by a powerful 2,800 Volt shock. There are a washable collecting tray and a comfortable chain to hang the bug zapper up in any place you need.
The Electronic Indoor Insect Zapper is safe for children and home pets because it is not toxic has no odor and doesn’t irritate breathing. You may use it at home, in restaurants, hotels, shops, stores, food preparation areas, hospitals, warehouses, factories, etc. – but only indoors.
Bulbs in the unit should be replaced with time due to a limited lifetime: it’s claimed that a one pair of them has a 10,000-hour life but some customers noted: “The bulbs don’t last very long… expect to have to replace them (two bulbs) a pop every 4-6 weeks”.
If you decide to change the bulb or clean your zapper, first unplug the unit and wait at least ONE HOUR before touching the grid. Otherwise, you can get hurt, so you’d better comply with this rule.
The Aspectek electronic bug zapper rates 4.2 out of 5 stars. Some users say that the device works quietly and doesn’t cause troubles for a night sleeping. They indicate that there is no way to muffle or reduce this noise when an insect flies into the metal grid but it doesn’t bother them. Others think that this sound is annoying and too loud.
Opinions vary but 72% of customers gave it 5 stars. Satisfied users agree that this is a must-have item if you have small children suffering from mosquitoes bites at nights. You may read customer reviews to decide whether it is worth purchasing this zapper for your indoor using.
By Store Extra
Last update on 2023-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Aspectek: Check the current price
Active resistance to mosquito invasion is something worth a reward. It seems that customers have grasped this idea, given high sales of this electronic fly swatter. Compared to a conventional swatter, this one has a powerful 4,000-volt grid and what you have to do is to hit a mosquito, and that’s it!
Use it both indoors and outdoors but avoid the rain since the product is not waterproof. To charge the battery, plug into any USB device.
One of the product’s advantage is that it is safe for use due to the protection ensured by a triple-layer safety mesh. If you occasionally touch the swatter while it’s electrified, the mesh will prevent you from receiving an electric discharge. The unit has an indicator light activated when the button is pressed.
Are you tired or too lazy to engage in a game of tennis? No problem, the racket can operate in a “passive” mode as a mosquito zapper. The unit has the built-in LED light to attract insects, just activate it and wait for mosquitoes to approach and touch the grid. The pest will be instantly electrocuted.
The downside of this option is the absence of a tray for killed insects, so, you will have to look for and collect the dead around the rocket. And yet, you may facilitate the process — put a sheet of paper coated with a sticky substance under the swatter.
ZAP IT! Bug zapper rates 4.2 out of 5 stars, with over 1,000 reviews, most of which are positive. Many of them claim that the bug zapper works great against mosquitoes. “Works as expected. The surface area is much larger than the average bug swatter,” a customer notes. “The house was full of mosquitoes and it became a game to see who could “Zap” the most! I am not a violent person, but there was a lot of satisfaction in seeing those little bloodsuckers “fry” when they flew into the racket!” another user says.
By Proactive Service
Last update on 2023-05-19 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
ZAP IT!: Check the current price
Here is another type of a zapper – indoor bug zapper bulb, attracting insects by UV light and killing them by electric current.
Using bulb, you will significantly save on lamps and nightlights: with no insects around, the device operates in a “light only” mode as a great and cost-efficient light source. Unlike conventional lamps, this bulb is energy-saving, with 25,000 burning hours (approximately 3 years).
You may use it 24/7 in the rooms, offices, shops, garages, patios, on a porch and even on a trip.
It can be screwed into a lampshade as a conventional bulb. It is convenient to use in the children’s room with a night light only and protective plugs mounted on the other sockets.
It has three modes of operation: bug zapper, light only, bug zapper & light which can be interchangeably switched to each other very easily. The bulb covers up to 540 square feet but in order to obtain a better effect, place at least one device per room.
This bulb doesn’t use chemical baits, nor does it release toxins over the course of its operation. It is safe for children and pets, therefore, you can safely place it in the children’s room. But the first thing you should remember is that it is an electric appliance, so don’t allow your children to play with it.
It zaps silently and not only mosquitoes but other insects as well. When this unit is on, you can enjoy sitting on the balcony, a patio or backyard without being bitten by mosquitoes.
ZappLIGHT: Check the current price
This mosquito zapper is much smaller, portable, and can easily be taken on a trip, installed inside any building, be it a hotel or garage. Like the previous product, this one should be used indoors only.
One bug zapper covers 16 square meters that is perfect protection for small spaces while for the larger ones you may install two or more items.
These pests are lured inside its with zapper’s LED lights which are mostly brighter than conventional incandescent bulbs and are better at attracting insects. Nevertheless, the product will not be effective in the daytime or near bright artificial illumination due to its small size.
According to the manufacturer, at night, the bug zapper’s efficiency increases tenfold. The product is available in two colors — blue and green.
Dead mosquitoes can be easily cleaned from inside, just remove the lid and wipe the dead insects with a tissue. Remember to first unplug the unit from an electrical outlet. Also, touch the metal plate with a screwdriver to check for static electricity release before contacting it (but only after unplugging it from the outlet!).
It bug zapper is highly popular with customers. “Haven’t noticed any dead flies but it does zap mosquitos. I got it to put in my granddaughter’s room,” a customer notes. As the users point out, when the insect flies into the unit, the sound is barely noticeable. They also recommend to turn off all lights to attract more pests into the trap.
Maxtrv: FIND THE BEST PRICE
A stylish zapper, it, is intended for mosquitoes and indoors only. To have a peaceful sleep, just turn it on two or three hours before sleep and there will be no mosquitoes in the room when you go to bed!
The device is most effective in small areas and cannot be used with a strong light nearby. You may place the unit at any distance from the bed but be sure that it is at least 0.5 meters above the ground. This will help to catch more pests.
The product’s distinctive feature is an intelligent light sensor activating the unit at dusk and turning it off at dawn. The bug zapper is quiet, safe and does not emit radiation. Mosquitoes are attracted by 365 nm wavelength light and killed by the fan inside.
One unit can cover an area of about 860 square feet. The product is less popular on than the previous ones, rating 3 out of 5 stars in reviews. “Used it for several days, it decreases the number of mosquitoes. Find some mosquitoes on the killer, it makes the quality of sleeping better,” a customer says.
KATCHY: Check the current price
Here are simple and inexpensive units which are portable and can be easily installed anywhere.
If you need a mosquito zapper for outdoor activities like camping, this one is definitely the best bug zapper to choose. The unit can be used both indoors and outdoors because of its waterproof design.
Being portable and equipped with 2000 mAh rechargeable battery, the bug zapper can easily be taken on a trip in any suitcase. Its size is just 3.46 x 5.08 inches.
According to the manufacturer, Enkeeo covers an area of 16 x 16 feet, attracting mosquitoes by the UV light in the spectrum visible to these pests.
The camping lantern has 3 different lighting modes, providing you 3 different brightness levels. Then the device kills the captured mosquitoes with a physical method, which is why, the zapper is clean, safe and can even be cleaned directly with running tap water.
By switching lighting modes, you may set three different brightness levels, the high light with 180 Lumen and 6-hour durability, the normal light with 90 lumens and 12-hour durability and the low light with 30 lumens and 20-hour durability.
But it worth noting that all of these modes are not bright at all, given that 375 lumens of a LED bulb are equal to 25W of an incandescent light bulb. So, if you need something really bright, you should get a lamp equal to 75-100W of a conventional lamp, that is 1,200 – 1,500 lumens.
Remember that the lamp brightness is one of the essential factors influencing the object’s attractiveness to mosquitoes. Otherwise speaking, to capture and kill a mosquito, you should first entice it inside the trap.
And yet, the camping light mosquito killer ranks high, with 4 out of 5 stars in reviews. One of the customers who used the product in the Adirondacks during a week has shared his experience. According to him, the bug zapper does catch mosquitoes but “it will not get rid of every mosquito in your tent,” he added.
The customer had to resort to other measures as well, including a bug zapper racket and repellent. “So, in summary, yes, it works as part of combination but I wouldn’t rely solely on this to be free of bugs. If it had some other attractant it might get a few more,” he concluded.
ENKEEO: Check the current price
A stylish bug zapper looking like a huge brilliant will not only kill mosquitoes but also decorate your house or a backyard. The product can be placed indoors and outdoors. This bug zapper is designed specifically to attract mosquitoes as its lamp releases wavelengths from 365 to 395 nm varied light wave to lure mosquitoes, which has been proved effective by scientists.
According to a scientific report in the journal Nature, “the experimental results in the study show that the light output angle and flicker frequency of 395 nm UV LED can greatly improve bug zapper capability to attract mosquitoes.” Although the lamp is powerful, it operates quietly without producing electric noise.
Therefore, the product not only eco-friendly but will not intrude upon your leisure. As soon as the insects get into the trap, they are killed by the built-in big fan, to be precise, mosquitoes will be air-dried to death.
The bug zapper has a triple anti-escape protection system. To get rid of the dead mosquitoes, just unlock the storage box. The product is powered by USB and can be connected to an adapter or computer.
With the height of about 8 inches, it can be easily carried outdoor and even taken on a trip but there should be an essential condition — the unit operates effectively in darkness only.
Electronic Mosquito Killer Bug Zapper rates 3.5 out of 5 stars, with 39% of consumers giving the product five stars. The users confirm that the unit works quietly and say that the light is warm enough to make mosquitoes interested.
Infestics: Check the current price
Well, if you need something more powerful in the backyard or garden, this one will be the best bug zapper for you. First, it saves your money as there is no need to waste them on new batteries — this bug zapper is solar-powered and rechargeable.
So, the unit is not just cost-efficient but environmentally friendly. Just install the mosquito zapper and that’s it! You do not need to manually operate the device and bother yourself with turning it on and off. The zapper does the job for you by automatically turning off in the daytime and turning on at dusk.
Another advantage is that the unit is multifunctional and can serve as a bug zapper or a just a lamp illuminating the garden at night. There are several ways you can install the bug zapper, by staking it into the ground or hanging on the tree or the porch of the house.
In any case, the product is designed as a traditional porch lantern which will decorate any house. But the way it handles mosquitoes is the same as in most zappers — it attracts the pests by the ultraviolet light, killing them by the electric shock. And yet, the product rates just 2.5 out of 5 stars, and there are more critical customer reviews.
As a rule, we cannot imagine the summertime without mosquitoes. So why not to turn the fight against pests into fun, especially if you have small children? For this reason, no wonder that manufacturers have taken care of babies and developed a number of fun zappers which can be installed near cribs and beds of small children in particular.
Let the babies have a nice and peaceful sleep! Both products have a cute innovative design. OWIKAR Mosquito Killer Lamp is made in the form of a mushroom. Аnd AOWOTO Inhaler Electronic Mosquito Killer is imitating a frog.
These bug zappers target specifically mosquitoes as they emit ultraviolet ray light in the range of 365 nm (the Mushroom) and 365-400 nm (the Frog). These are the wavelength attractive to mosquitoes.
When the pests approach the unit, they are inhaled by an electric fan of the Frog and dried out. Or instantly killed by a high-voltage metal grid inside the Mushroom.
The insulating resin shell of the Mushroom prevents humans and pets from contacting the grid. When using the Frog, you should better put some bait like honey in the lamp’s chassis to increase the number of captures mosquitoes.
The Mushroom is intended for placing in homes, hospitals, restaurants, and should not be used in outdoor activities since the unit is not waterproof.
The producer of the Frog recommends the product for using both indoors and outdoors, being cunning because this bug zapper is not waterproof either.
The prices differ, with the Frog being more expensive but, at the same time, more popular with customers. As for the Mushroom, the customers are mainly skeptical about its capability to catch mosquitoes but still, there are more positive reviews.
Regarding the Frog, there are more reviews, with customers appreciating the product’s capacity for catching mosquitoes. “The first night I used my frog mosquito inhaler, it trapped at least 8 of the pesky bloodsuckers!” a user said. “This is a pretty cool mosquito catcher!… doesn’t make the noise like some mosquito catchers,” another customer agrees.
Can I apply it in my bedroom?
Yes, because it is harmless. If you are not touched by the abundance of dead insects in a tray of the device, then use it without a doubt in your bedroom.
Is it necessary to hang the device on? Can I put it on the table?
You can hang it on a ring or put it on any flat surface – table, shelf, floor.
What is the easiest way to clean a zapper?
The tray under the unit is pulled out easily so you can remove dead midges. Also, you may use a compressed air spray such as Dust-Off Disposable Compressed Gas Duster.
In practice, chemical attractants are very effective. You may use №1 Best Seller in Pest Control Lures – Mosquito Magnet OCTENOL.
This type of attractants is especially good at luring Asiatic tiger mosquitoes that can pass the virus of encephalitis. Expiration time of the bait makes up from 21 days to 2 months and after that it must be replaced. Or use other baits:
Other methods of effective mosquitoes control are: mosquito foggers and mosquito propane traps. Read our article “How to Get Rid Of Mosquitoes in Your House and Yard: 7 Tried and True Ways, Proven by the Scientists” to find out how to stop mosquitoes from breeding.
Dr. Christopher Potter is a neuroscientist at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His areas of interest include the processing of olfactory information by the brain. Dr. Potter has received numerous awards from the Whitehall Foundation, the National Institute of Infectious Diseases, and others.
“The most dangerous animals on the Earth are tiny insects — mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are essentially human-seeking flying hypodermic needles that can transmit diseases via a simple bite. Fortunately, they have a weakness that we can exploit. They rely on their sense of smell to find us. My lab studies the sense of smell in insects. We are interested in understanding how an insect brain interprets and responds to odors. We develop new genetic tools and methods that allow unprecedented understanding and control over the neurons involved in the sense of smell.”
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I received LIGHTSMAX Solar Powered Light, Mosquito and Insect Bug Zapper. So glad because of it works quite well. Thank you again!
Well, I plan to install LIGHTSMAX Solar Powered Light, Mosquito and Insect Bug Zapper. But some reviews say that they do not work with all insects. Do you have some advice?
That night I thought it was time to tie with mosquitoes. All night he scratched and drove them away. It's hot outside, so I opened the balcony, there is certainly no mosquito net there. Today I took the first step. I bought an Electronic Insect Killer. Let's see what they say to this! I hope that they all die in this thing!
We don't have much of a mosquito issue, but the flies in barn and paddock are sometimes unbearable for us humans! Our 7 horses have masks and are sprayed with an organic substance that works well; manure is picked up and hauled away, fly predators are employed, and urine is sprayed with a cedar solution; still summertime fly season is awful! Might the Flowtron FC-880, hung in the barn, kill a substantial population of flies, or are "zappers" best for mosquitos only?
Thanks!
What do you think, the better to use Bug Zapper Bulb or Bug Zapper Racket? Who then has experience?
I like Bug Zapper Bulb more, because you turn it on and it works. You do not need to make any effort to protect yourself from mosquitoes.
As for us, we are disappointed in the bug zapper light bulb. It stopped working after a few days just like that. I can’t trust these bulbs any more. I’m going to go back to sticky traps.
There is nothing better for me than a zapper light. I was hopeless and thought that nothing and no-one could solve my problem as I live near a marsh, and have become used to constant insect bites. Nevertheless, this device proved that impossible is nothing.
Great that your problem was solved! Please tell us which device you used. They're all zappers, i think, so which particular zapper met your needs? Did you use it indoors or out? Thanks!
I think Flowtron is the best bug zapper. I used CRAZO before it and I didn’t particularly enjoy it. Then I bought my current Flowtron one and I believe it works much better.
An indoor bug zapperis a killing machine! It fried a whole bunch of bugs overnight. I was amazed by the amount of the dead insects found in the morning. I was so satisfied with its performance, that I decided to try another brand too. I’m waiting for the shipment! Hope it will work just as impeccably!
Which fly zapper do you currently use? We are considering buying a market newbie by Pest Venator.
Mine is Flowtron as far as I remember.
I’m very satisfied with this purchase. We bought two electronic bug zappers: one is a basic one, and the other is more expensive. When we first installed them, they worked like crazy and you could see a pile of dead insects around. They had a substantial impact on the insect population in our house. We leave them on all day and all night long.