How do bug zappers work

The sounds of Spring. Rain and thunderstorms, birds that are finally coming back after a long winter, and ZAP! That's right, it's time to talk about bug zappers, an invention that has come a long way since it was first patented in

To investigate the effectiveness of bug zappers on mosquitoes, the Department of Entomology and Applied Ecology at the University of Delaware spent 10 weeks analyzing bug zappers. Altogether, over 13, insects were zapped and collected. Out of 13, zapped insects, l ess than 0. Out of 13, zapped insects, o ver Based on the study's results, bug zappers are killing beneficial insects like beetles and moths, which can result in negative effects on local ecosystems. Experts and studies from Colorado State University Extension and the American Mosquito Control Association concluded that bug zappers are not effective at controlling biting mosquitoes. Experts cited in an article from the Wirecutter also concluded that bug zappers have the unintended consequence of killing beneficial insects.

How do bug zappers work

While you have fun outdoors, many insects get to enjoy a good meal. Either they're eating your food or they're eating you. To clear your yard of these insects, you can try a variety of devices, ranging from simple Citronella candles to elaborate traps to pesticides such as Dursban to electronic bug zappers. A bug zapper , more formally known as an electronic insect-control system or electrical-discharge insect-control system , lures bugs into it and kills them with electricity. In this article, we will examine the parts of a bug zapper, learn how this device works and discuss the controversies surrounding its use. We'll also look at some other bug-control devices that may make your time outdoors more pleasant. The first bug zapper was patented in by William F. Folmer and Harrison L. Chapin U. Although there have been many improvements, mostly in the areas of safety and lures, the basic design of the bug zapper has remained the same. These grids are separated by a tiny gap, about the size of a typical insect a couple of millimeters. The light inside the wire-mesh network lures the insects to the device many insects see ultraviolet light better than visible light, and are more attracted to it, because the flower patterns that attract insects are revealed in ultraviolet light.

Far fewer insects will show up because the yellow coating filters out the blue spectrum light which attracts many flying insects. Housing - Exterior casing that holds the parts The housing is usually made of plastic or electrically grounded metal and may how do bug zappers work shaped liked a lanterna cylinder or a big rectangular cube. All of them indicate that bug zappers should be avoided at all costs.

Bug zappers kill bugs by the thousands. They are ineffective against mosquitoes and other biting flies, and their otherwise indiscriminate killing can disrupt pollination and generally throw the environment out of balance. Plus, the force of their electrocution can spew a mist of disease-ridden bug parts out into the air. All of the mosquito experts we spoke with and every relevant university extension office we could find unanimously condemned bug zappers. To keep an area free of bugs or to prevent yourself from getting bitten, there are much better alternatives. To learn more about bug zappers, we spoke to Laurence Zwiebel , PhD, a professor of biological science and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Vosshall has been studying insects for 30 years, with a focus on mosquitoes and repellency for the past 15 years.

Fly zappers have long been a popular method of fly control in commercial food handling premises such as take away outlets, cafes, delis, butchers, bakeries, commercial kitchens, food manufacturing and more. In fact, the fly zapper has been around for centuries with the first fly zapper believed to have been invented by Leonardo da Vinci in The first commercially produced fly zapper was invented in They get the name from the characteristic 'zap' sound created when an insect touches the electrical grid. Fly zappers are available in a range of different shapes and styles but all share the same basic characteristics. Fly zappers use ultraviolet tubes to attract flying insects into the unit, before 'zapping' them dead when they touch a high voltage killing grid. UV tubes attract flying insects by emitting a wavelength of light attractive to flies. The electrocuted fly then falls into a catch tray in the base of the unit. Fly zappers are ideal for back of house areas such as store rooms, loading docks, garbage bin rooms and other commercial back of house areas.

How do bug zappers work

Bug zappers kill bugs by the thousands. They are ineffective against mosquitoes and other biting flies, and their otherwise indiscriminate killing can disrupt pollination and generally throw the environment out of balance. Plus, the force of their electrocution can spew a mist of disease-ridden bug parts out into the air. All of the mosquito experts we spoke with and every relevant university extension office we could find unanimously condemned bug zappers. To keep an area free of bugs or to prevent yourself from getting bitten, there are much better alternatives. To learn more about bug zappers, we spoke to Laurence Zwiebel , PhD, a professor of biological science and pharmacology at Vanderbilt University. Vosshall has been studying insects for 30 years, with a focus on mosquitoes and repellency for the past 15 years.

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In its October issue, Popular Mechanics magazine had a piece showing a model "fly trap" that used all the elements of a modern bug zapper, including electric light and electrified grid. The researchers claimed that killing this many harmless insects would disturb nearby ecosystems. Additionally, we read as much as we could about bug zappers, immersing ourselves in academic studies and looking at a wide variety of university publications, many from extension offices. Mosquitoes are attracted to this mixture, get sucked into a net, dehydrate and die. Philips - More Awesome Stuff. An ultraviolet emitting light bulb attracts insects into a high voltage electrical wire mesh grid where the bugs are electrocuted. We have recommendations for both types in our guide to the best bug repellents. We asked Day about this. However, a better question to ask is whether zappers are effective at killing the most annoying bugs. The Best Bug-Killing Gear. Contents move to sidebar hide. Further reading. Of those insects killed, only 31 were biting insects.

A bug zapper , more formally called an electrical discharge insect control system , electric insect killer or insect electrocutor trap , is a device that attracts and kills flying insects that are attracted by light.

Featured Products View All. By design, bug zappers do not discriminate between types of insects, but because of their luring strategy, they tend kill those insects that are most attracted to ultraviolet light. Battery-powered bug zappers are manufactured, often in the shape of a tennis racket , with which flying insects can be hit. In he introduced the electronic insect killer that became the model for all future bug zappers. Bug zappers are usually housed in a protective cage of plastic or grounded metal bars to prevent people or larger animals from touching the high voltage grid. This is high enough to conduct through the body of an insect which bridges the two grids, but not high enough to spark across the air gap. Since mosquitoes lay eggs in water, you should eliminate all sources of standing water , such as watering cans or old tires. Contents move to sidebar hide. A high-voltage power supply powered by wall power is used, which may be a simple transformerless voltage multiplier circuit made with diodes and capacitors which can generate a voltage of 2 kilovolts or more. That's right, it's time to talk about bug zappers, an invention that has come a long way since it was first patented in We recommend something with a 20 percent concentration of picaridin, which is as effective as DEET. Citronella oil is a product of several types of plants. Traditional bug zappers will kill a large number of harmless insects. Retrieved 30 April