In this article, I will dwell on bug zapper rackets as an effective tool for combating mosquitoes, which in some respects has an advantage both over ordinary bug zappers and insecticides. As for the latter, regardless of whether the insecticide is in the form of spray or granules, it is toxic. The level of toxicity of different products varies, with natural insecticides being the least hazardous ones. But as people increasingly seek environmentally friendly solutions to problems of any kind, chemical mosquito killers are becoming less attractive. From this perspective, electric fly swatters are fully safe. On the other hand, there is another alternative to insecticides — bug zappers functioning as traps. Still, they lose out on effectiveness to electric mosquito rackets. Why? The main concern for manufacturers is not about how to kill the trapped mosquitoes — bug zappers do this job pretty well — but rather how to attract the proper insect. As is well know, the key downside of all electric zappers is that they mostly attract wrong insects including beneficial ones, while biting insects account just for about 0.2% of the trophy, as scientists from the University of Delaware have discovered.
Table of Contents:
- Best Electric Fly Swatters
- My Experience Of Testing Three Types Of Bug Zapper Rackets
- 10 Steps On How Use Electric Fly Swatters
- What Is An Electric Fly Swatter Made Of?
- TOP 5 Best Bug Zapper Racket Review
This is what makes ordinary bug zappers different from tennis racket bug zappers. The latter does not rely on technical capabilities of a device but totally depends on human’s activity and vigor. I think you will agree that no bug zapper can compete with humans in the field of mental power. You detect a mosquito, follow it and swat it. So, why electric fly swatter is more effective than an ordinary one? When it comes to the very process of killing the insect, an ordinary swatter made of leather or whatever does not even come close to the death machine of an electric mosquito racket which incinerates the mosquitoes on contact.
Best Electric Fly Swatters
Black Flag | Zap it! | PreciShock |
Generates 2750 Volts, powered by two AA batteries. Safe because the mesh has 3 layers. | Well-known on the market. 3,000 Volts, a battery is built in the handle. A safe 3-layer mesh. | 3,000 Volts. Its metal rods effectively kill not only small insects but larger bugs. |
Effectiveness: 7 | Effectiveness: 9 | Effectiveness: 10 |
Check Price | Check Price | Check Price |
An article published in International Journal of Research and Engineering highlights weaknesses of an ordinary swatter compared with electric ones. In particular, it claims that for some people, it is almost impossible to kill flies using such swatters. “It can take a lot of time and work just to kill a single fly. Aside from that, you can also ruin stunning linens and clean curtains if you make the error of hitting the fly although it is flying over tablecloths and curtains. Flies are extremely great at sensing the movement of the air around them. This is why they are so adept at dodging swats with a fly swatter,” the article reads. According to the author, tennis racket bug zappers remove these shortcomings.
I would add that an electric fly swatter has a huge advantage over all above-mentioned solutions that it virtually converts a boring and displeasing activity of mosquito control into a true enjoyment and healthy form of recreation. I know lots of people — and I am one of them — who lose track of time, once a bug zapper racket appears in the hand. It catches you completely and you just cannot stop counting incinerated insects: 5, 6, 7, 8… So, I can speak from my experience. Moreover, I have tested three different electric mosquito swatters to identify their deficiencies and strengths and I did it in Thailand where various species of mosquitoes are in abundance.
Now, what am I going to talk about in this article? I will tell you about the way a typical fly zapper racket operates and, for clarity, made up a plan of action for those willing to master this tool. I will share my personal experience with you and give you some tips and, at the end of the article, you will find a review of the best electric bug swatters that can be purchased online.
My Experience Of Testing Three Types Of Bug Zapper Rackets
In the picture above, you can see all three types of mosquito zapper rackets that I have tried in Thailand. The first one is that of a light-green color and an impressive LED light on the front side of the handle. This product is the priciest and excessively complicated one. Also, it is too big and definitely will be inconvenient for women and children. So, I gave it three out of five points and below you will find why I valued the item at a low rate:
- Its bulky handle is not easy to use, especially by women or other people with the small hands. Actually, this bulkiness is justified only by the presence of the flashlight installed in the handle.
- The button activating the mesh is not easy to reach when holding the mosquito racket.
- The process of charging is too durable.
- The device itself is not intuitive.
- This mosquito racket is excessively complicated and some buttons are not actually needed. Aside from that, the product is not energy-efficient.
- The purpose of a small LED light on the handle was not specified by the producers. I guess it is designed to help hunting mosquitoes at night.
Another device which comes under the Number Two, in my view, is the best mosquito zapper racket. I gave it the highest score — five points. Why?
- It is easy to exploit and swat flying insects with.
- The press-and-hold button is convenient to use when holding the bug swatter.
- The mosquito zapper racket is well-made and without any hollow spaces.
- Once a power is switched on, an electric discharge appears. This signals that the current flow is activated and the device is ready to use. All elements are user-friendly!
- When charged, mosquito zapper racket can be exploited as long as four weeks.
And finally, the third bug racket of the smallest size has scored four out of five. Here are my conclusions made following its testing in Thailand:
- This bug racket is the most mobile compared to the previous ones and operates on batteries. That is why it will be good for open-air activities, especially where you have no access to the source of electricity.
- The unit is impractical for the indoor use because you cannot plug it into a socket but, instead, will have to purchase new batteries over and over again.
- The electronic mosquito swatter is constructed well and is solid.
- This is the best choice for kids since the bug racket is lightweight and convenient.
So, what overall conclusions have I drawn? Incredible! Now I see why tennis racket bug zappers are in demand in Thailand where the pest problem is acute. Not only does this device accomplishes a mission it was designed for — kills flying insects — it also does a world of good to your health and frame of mind. You will feel relaxed and sportive, believe me, there will be no trace of annoyance you were burning with at being bitten by mosquitoes. Swatting pests with a fly swatter zapper resembles a game which brings satisfaction because, with a little hard work, you will get a pile of mosquitoes. From my experience, one flying insect per minute is an average rate.
This picture shows how many mosquitoes I have killed with the help of a bug zapper swatter over the course of some 15 minutes.
I would also like to share some useful observations with you.
- As soon as the mosquito is incinerated, it emits a characteristic odor that can be quite unpleasant, particularly when these guys are incinerated en masse.
- When an insect hits the electric grid, a peculiar sound can be heard. Still, some people even like such sounds and say they signal that another insect is killed.
- Applying such fly racket indoors, keep in mind that you will have to clean the floor and carpet from dead insects. So, you will have to do some extra work.
- You must strictly follow all safety directions indicated by the manufacturer. Electric discharge not only can painful but dangerous as well. So, once the bug swatter zapper is switched off and you put it somewhere on the surface, it will keep on producing electric discharge for some time. And, upon contact with dust or other particles, the grid will incinerate them. To eliminate this effect, clean the mesh with a dry cloth but do not touch it with a moist tissue! More importantly, do not let your finger or other parts of the body contact the mesh in order to avoid being harmed by electric discharge. Store the fly swatter racket so that kids will not be able to get and handle it unsupervised.
10 Steps On How Use Electric Fly Swatters
Now you have got your electric fly swatter. What should be done next?
STEP#1 Charge its built-in battery or install two AA batteries into the battery cabinet. When using a bug racket for the first time, charge the battery until it is full.
STEP#2 Detect the mosquito. Remember that an insect resting on an object such as table or curtains is not your target. Do not make the electric fly swatter contact any surfaces, tissues or substances when it is activated. Keep in mind that hitting a mosquito is not an easy task. Entomologist Matan Shelomi outlines a number of reasons for that. First, they see you approaching pretty well not only above but also behind themselves because of their big and multifaceted eyes. The second reason is that mosquitoes are faster than humans whose hands move slower than mosquitoes fly. Thirdly, this might sound strange but mosquitoes make decisions faster than humans. When we see a mosquito and make a decision to kill it, our brain sends a signal to the arm and the latter receives it in a few milliseconds. As for mosquitoes, this process is much faster — a signal from its brain to the wing muscles takes a fraction of a nanosecond. In other words, they react one hundred times faster than humans are capable of. My advice is that you should be agile to win the battle.
STEP#3 Take the handle and press the button to initiate the power and make the mosquito swatter racket ready-to-use. Hold the button. Check that the power indicator is on. Swat it in the direction of the mosquito.
STEP#4 Make sure you have killed the mosquito. When the insect comes into contact with a bug swatter, you hear a zapping sound. Also, the smell of the incinerated insect also serves as a sign that the task is accomplished. Relax and let you enjoy this small victory!
STEP#5 Release the button only after the insect is incinerated because, in many cases, continuous current is needed to kill the insect for sure. Touch neither the protective mesh nor the inner one.
STEP#6 Repeat the first, second and third steps in case more mosquitoes have been noticed around you or if you failed to hit the mosquito.
STEP#7 When electric shock is weak, install new AA batteries or charge the built-in battery, depending on the type of your electric fly swatter.
STEP#8 Collect the dead bodies using a brush or vacuum cleaner or just handpicking them. Put them in a plastic bag and throw in a garbage can.
STEP#9 Now, you have got something to brag about. Right? Take a photo of the battlefield and post them online. Let everyone know what a hero you are!
STEP#10 Even if the power button is released, you should follow precaution measures to avoid being shocked and other risks. Scientists from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki published an article on the harm that can be potentially caused to humans and their property when a fly zapper racket is not handled properly. For example, a 31-year-old woman had rubbed her legs with an alcohol lotion as a remedy for itching caused by insect bites. Right after that, she gripped a fly zapper racket with the aim of killing a flying around her. She was holding it about a meter away from the legs. Once the captured mosquito incinerated, it produced the flame which ignited the alcohol on the limbs. As a result, both her legs were partially burned. Another case involved a 2-year-old boy whose clothes were ignited when he had placed the fly zapper racket on the floor. The device was still hot while the floor was painted with glue. The glue was ignited by the heat from the metallic mesh and then the fire spread to the clothes of the boy. These facts by no means should discourage you from exploiting a fly zapper racket but rather should be a reminder of the importance of reading and following all label directions provided with the purchased product.
What Is An Electric Fly Swatter Made Of?
Electric fly swatters target any flying insects but most of them are more effective on smaller ones such as mosquitoes. The main part of the device is the charged electrocuting net which kills insects on contact. Typically, it has protective layers on both sides but some bug swatter rackets come without such protection posing risks to humans while being capable of killing larger-sized bugs. Therefore, if you have kids, you should better choose a three-layer mosquito racket.
When an insect contacts the grid, the stored high voltage in the capacitor discharges through the body of the captured insect producing a spark and incinerating it. As for modern commercially available products, their transformer generates up to 2,000 – 3,000V sent through the body of the insect. The more potent your bug swatter racket is, the more pests it will annihilate.
The fly racket either has a built-in battery that has to be regularly recharged or is powered by AA batteries which usually have to be purchased separately. In the first case, charge the battery using a USB cord. Note that some batteries are longer-lasting while others have a shorter life cycle. All this should be taken into account when comparing the price of different products. Many electric fly swatters are fit with the LED bulb flashlight. It carries out a dual task: makes it easier to detect a mosquito at night and, at the same time, attracts insects since they always strive towards the light. Any electric fly swatter has a button activating the mesh, as well as a switch on indicator which is not to be confused with a battery charging indicator. The battery pack and circuit are located at the bottom of the handle. As for the racket’s weight, it normally ranges from 6 to 12 ounces but there are heavier and lighter mosquito swatter rackets on the market.
TOP 5 Best Bug Zapper Racket Review
Now, let’s have a look at a range of bug zapper rackets available. I have focused on the most popular and effective ones. This electric fly swatter review includes various products with different characteristics. There are easy-to-use bug swatters and more complicated ones. Larger bug rackets have a wider area to catch an insect but are heavier and more difficult to handle. In dependence on the voltage produced by the device, the electric mosquito racket is considered more or less effective. Those with 3,000 volts have the best performance. Aside from that, they can be powered either with a built-in battery or separate AA batteries installed into the cabinet. Mosquito rackets also vary in terms of the electric mesh structure that can have two protective layers or come with a one-layer net. The latter poses additional risks to humans but kills larger bugs. The products are available in various price categories, from the cheapest ones priced about ten dollars to the best electric fly swatters at aprice of over 20 US dollars.
Black Flag Electric Fly Swatter
As for the size, this is a 17-inch bug racket in length, which is neither large nor short. Let’s just say, the most appropriate option. It weighs 9,6 ounces — not actually heavy, but for kids, it does not seem to be an easy object to swing. The generated power amounts to almost 2800V, that is why I think it is fair to say that the device will be good at killing mosquitoes. Black Flag is powered by two AA batteries, so you can take it for outdoor activities for a long period of time, given you have extra batteries as a reserve. Also, it is easy to store because of a hook attached to the handle so that the fly racket can be easily hung on the wall. The device works quite, the only thing you hear is a zapping sound heard at the moment when the insect contacts the mesh.
Regarding the mesh, it is equipped with two protective layers to make your handling Black Flag electric fly swatter safer. Some customers lamented that they tried to dismantle these protective layers since, as they put it, they blocked mosquitoes from contacting the charged mesh. As a result, the device was broken. So, do not repeat their mistakes because you can cut the wire inside the grid. Although the manufacturer indicated large bugs among the target insects as well, some customers denied that assertion. For example, there were cases when the bug was hit by the electric bug swatter but eventually escaped unharmed. Perhaps this is due to the fact that large bugs have strong armour and are too bulky to easily get through the outer mesh.
Its rating is 4.3 out of 5 stars. “This tool has made killing mosquitoes so much easier! All I had to do was touch the face of the racket down on a resting mosquito (or any insect) or wave it side to side if it is in mid-air and it will zap it!” a satisfied customer wrote.
Price: Check the current price
Zap-It! Electric Fly Swatter
Zap It! products have long been the best bug zapper rackets and are well-known among consumers. If you look at the price, you will see that this item costs several times more than Black Flag. It is more sophisticated while more lightweight — 8,9 ounces. The 21-inch racket is definitely larger, namely its mesh area where mosquitoes come in contact with the deadly machine and are incinerated. Another significant advantage is the power it generates — 3,000V. It is noteworthy that this is the peak figure in the review. Zap-It mosquito racket runs on a built-in battery which can be charged through USB cord connected to any device. In order to accelerate the process of charging, do it when the fly racket is switched on. When connected to a PC, charging may last for no more than five minutes.
The product’s handle is fitted with the LED light allowing to exploit the fly racket as a standard bug zapper. At night, the light will lure flying insects in the electric mesh located above. So you can keep on fighting mosquitoes even if you are unwilling to bother with swinging the swatter.
Its rating is 4.3 out of 5 stars. Numerous users have confirmed that this electric fly swatter is good at zapping small insects while the larger ones manage to survive. This can probably be explained by the fact that the product has three layers of mesh. “Works like a charm! Really does make a satisfying ZAP when it incinerates a mosquito. Just wave it around if you have very small, fast-moving mosquitoes like we do, and when you hit one you will hear it,” one of the said.
Price: Check the current price
Zap-It! Mini Electric Fly Swatter
Do you want to engage your kids in this amusing game of killing mosquitoes? Then, Zap It! Mini will be a pick of the bunch since it is convenient to use and is very lightweight — just 3,2 ounces. It is also smaller compared to the standard version by this manufacturer, with 17 inches in length, but actually has approximately the same size as many other commercially available rackets have.
Concerning other product properties, Zap It! Mini does not differ from the standard version. It generates 3,000V and has protective layers of mesh. The latter is particularly crucial, given that the device will be exploited by children. To charge the built-in battery, connect it to a USB port of any unit. The flashlight with a LED bulb will be helpful at night and serve as a tiny torch.
Its rating is 4.4 out of 5 stars. Users claim that the product works wonderfully on mosquitoes. “I use this racket to “sweep” the garden bed areas around our patio, and I routinely catch 15-20 in just a few minutes. Highly recommend,” a customer wrote. “Fun and functional. Excellent product. Buying a full size and another mini for kids & grandkids,” another user noted.
Price: Check the current price
YsChois®, Electric Fly Swatter Racket
With this tennis racket bug zapper, you will not risk being left without light, which is particularly important when you are outdoors. At night, when bloodsuckers are typically raging, you may not have a torch at hand that would facilitate catching mosquitoes. While this bug swatter has not only the flashlight with LED bulbs on its handle, but a detachable lamb containing five LED bulbs. Also, the product has a long-lasting built-in battery which you can be charged up to six hundred times.
In addition to these advantages, Koramzi racket bug zapper is actually very cheap. You will pay some ten dollars for a good mosquito control device! But why is it cheaper than other products in the review? The product is less powerful, generating just 2,600V. This is crucial because influences the number of incinerated insects — the more voltage it produces, the better chance the bug will not be just stunned but finally killed. Another drawback is the size, over 22 inches, which is too big for an item you are supposed to swing repeatedly. Worse still, this bug racket is the heaviest one, weighing approximately 12 ounces.
Its rating is 3.5 out of 5 stars. Dissatisfied customers mainly report technical flaws, for example, some incidents occurring during charging or that the fly racket breaks easily. “Awesome product. Its strong for destroying mosquitos during the hot summer heat. The bottom led is great but the light in the middle is useless,” a customer wrote.
Price: Check the current price
Comparative Chart: 5 Best Electric Fly Swatters
Product | Type | Price |
Black Flag | 2750 Volts, powered by two AA batteries. 17 inches in length, weighing 9,6 ounces. The mesh has protective layers. | |
Zap-It! | 3,000 Volts, a battery is built in the handle. 21 inches in length, weighing 8,9 ounces. The mesh has protective layers. | |
Zap-It! Mini | 3,000 Volts, a battery is built in the handle. 17 inches in length, weighing 3,2 ounces. The mesh has protective layers. | |
Koramzi | 2,600 Volts, a battery is built in the handle. 22 inches in length, weighing 12 ounces. The mesh has protective layers. | |
PreciShock | 3,000 Volts, powered by two AA batteries. 21 inches in length, weighing 11 ounces. No protective layers, just metal rods. |