About mosquito traps
Mosquito traps are a natural way of eradicating all the pesky insects troubling your household in the summer. And by employing them you can have an outdoor party or any other activity in your backyard without worrying about insect bites. Pesticides that are often used in killing mosquitoes can be quite toxic to certain individuals and pets. So, since the best mosquito traps don’t use them, they have the edge over insecticides and other similar chemicals.
How do mosquito traps work?
The modus operandi of mosquito traps is a unique one.
The lure used by most of these devices (usually it is is Octenol) dependent on how efficiently they can mimic our respiratory patterns. Often, this entails the production and subsequent release of CO2 from the device. This isn’t surprising since the exhalation of carbon dioxide and heat emission are the main ways blood-sucking insects can locate us as their targets.
The visual organ for most mosquitoes is quite primitive and incapable of helping their cause, so they rely on scent and heat detection to find us. So with the traps mimicking us, the mosquitoes believe they are a potential target. Yet as soon as they fly near the traps, they capture the insects.
Some traps are even equipped with a suction mechanism which makes their capture of them even more efficient. The mosquitoes are pulled into a waiting net where they are killed using heat. This approach might not be the best, but it has its benefits because an area with an alarming mosquito population will profit immensely from such a trap.
The use of a sticky lure is also still a much-utilized attractant in mosquito traps. In these types of traps, the likely landing spots of these insects are identified and laced with an extremely sticky substance. Once a mosquito lands in one of these locations, it is held firmly in place, making it easy to kill them. And although this might not be a very effective way of getting rid of mosquitoes outside, it can be helpful indoors.
In addition to imitating our respiratory patterns, fragrances that these insects find attractive also are incorporated into a mosquito trap. This increases the trap’s effectiveness significantly and ensures more mosquitoes are attracted to the trap and therefore more mosquitoes are captured and killed.
Usually, operating most of these devices requires power. Some utilize certain organic compounds as fuel, while others use electricity to provide the energy needed for the trap to work and for the lures to be emitted. If the device is electricity dependent, it will need to be connected to an electrical outlet to work. This might limit the outdoor use of such a trap.
But, of course, there is always the option of just getting a powerstrip and plugging the trap into it. While some products work without the need for electricity because they are powered by compounds like propane. (Check our top pick for a propane mosquito trap.)
This improves the versatility of this device enabling it to work farther from your home and in places without access to electricity.
Are mosquito traps safe?
The safety of mosquito traps is beyond doubt.
Unlike pesticides, which are known to be toxic to people and pets, mosquito traps don’t produce any harmful chemicals. Therefore, they are not hazardous to the members of your household including your pets.
Most mosquito traps are built not to harm beneficial insects like moths and bees. This only goes to show how safe these devices are.
Tips on using mosquito traps
- Pick the ideal trap for your home: Many homeowners make the mistake of opting for quantity instead of quality. This approach almost always backfires wherever it’s applied, and purchasing a mosquito trap is no exception. Buying a decent-sized unit will be your best choice if your home is rather large. But you might need to purchase a few units if the area to protect from mosquitoes is really big to ensure that mosquitoes are kept away from your home.
- Target the mosquito species troubling your home: There are many different species of mosquitoes. So by identifying the mosquito species which are disturbing the peace in your particular area and then purchasing traps with a significant success rate against those species will ensure you the best results. For instance, the Aedes aegypti mosquito is a known pest in areas which are densely populated and big cities are greatly by this group of mosquitoes. Therefore, if you live in such a location, going for a trap with a good track record against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes will be your best bet at keeping the mosquitoes away.
- Proper positioning of the mosquito trap is vital: One common error among homeowners is placing the mosquito trap in the part of their house that is used all through the day. This is almost like rendering the device handicapped. It might still catch some mosquitoes but not nearly enough to see significant results. So place the trap in an area that doesn’t get that much traffic and see the number of mosquitoes in and around your home diminish by the hour.
- Don’t expect immediate results: Contrary to what is achieved using insecticides, mosquito traps will take a little longer to do any visible damage to the unwanted pests and their population. Using these devices is a gradual process that requires patience and persistence. Therefore, don’t expect zero insects in 10 minutes after turning on your mosquito trap. Wait a few days, and you might be surprised at how efficient insect traps actually are.
- When mosquitoes are active is the best time to strike: Set up your trap just before the mosquitoes become active. This usually is during the sunset and sunrise. In these two peak periods, the movement of mosquitoes is glaringly noticeable. So with your trap in place and in perfect condition, most of the irksome insects that are out and about should be lured to their deaths.
How to choose the best mosquito trap for your home
Attractants differ with mosquito species: Mosquito traps depend greatly on the attractant they use to work effectively. Because the attractant is the substance that lures the mosquitoes into the trap.
Remember!
Different species of mosquitoes respond better to different attractants, so, you need to choose a trap with a lure that will provide the best results in your particular area.
Maintenance factor: A trap is as good as how well it is maintained. Pick a trap that you can easily keep clean and in shape. If the electric variety is something you can handle, then go for it. But if the fuel-dependent trap is more up your alley, then go for that.
Trap location: Where you intend on using the trap could decide which device you settle for. Some traps are not meant to be used indoors, while others are only effective in your home. Check the attributes of the unit you are considering and pick the one which dots all of the I’s and crosses all of the T’s for you.
Conclusion – Which is the best mosquito trap?
Mosquito traps aren’t a quick solution to mosquito or other insect problems, but it’s an efficient one.
Once you got your mosquito trap working for a while, it will break the insect breeding cycle, and after a month or so, you will see huge improvements in your insect population, and the effect will last for a long time, only getting better with each new day that the mosquito trap is running.
And if you are searching for the best mosquito trap among all of the insect traps that are on the market right now, then we highly suggest Catch Ultra mosquito trap if you have a spare budget or simply go with the Dynatrap products as the brand has already proven itself within years of work and is decently priced for everyone.
3 Comments
Sheryl
Hi
interesting read. I am in Australia and know I have at least 3 or 4 species around my home. I am also aware of how big a role mosquitos play in the fertilisation of plants. I laughed when I came across one device that was an enormous attractant and vacuum. There are few permanently wet places like the Everglades here where I imagine that may find a use. I would go insane with the amount of mozzies they have there. I had never come across the sort you have reviewed down here but I will now look. Cheers Sheryl
Penny
Hi! Isn t there an effective device that traps but doesn t kill mosquitos?I m looking forward to your reply. Thank you in advance!
Insectcop
Hello! I have to admit, if such a thing exists, I’ve never heard of it. If you are against killing them, for ethical reasons, you might want to go for a method that simply repels them.