![]() ![]() When using indoors, place it in areas with high mosquito traffic. Still, when choosing an item, bear in mind that indoor bug zappers provide better protection and kill more target insects than outdoors ones. Besides, locate any sticky surface beneath to catch those insects that managed to avoid the trap. Then, how to increase the productivity? For outdoor bug zappers, experts with the University of California come up with an idea of adding chemical baits to make the unit more appealing to pests. This is the fall-out you will have to deal with. And their number will inevitably exceed the amount of the killed ones. Another weak point is that once it is turned on, it will gather all flying guys from around the area. The latter will account for at most four percent of the total amount. Indeed, if you have swarms of all sorts of insects, they will easily get into the trap, filling your zapper with fried bugs rather than mosquitoes. “Research has shown that bug zappers provide little mosquito control and actually kill more beneficial insects than pests,” scientists with Texas A&M AgriLife claim. Nevertheless, many scientists are still skeptical. Read also: Bug light bulbs: Are new devices effective against mosquitoes & other biting insects? Do bug zappers really work? An article featured by Entomology Today states: “More recent studies have shown that light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which emit specific wavelengths instead of the entire visual spectrum (and beyond), can be more efficient at attracting mosquitoes.” Expressed in figures, this is the range between 400 and 600 nm. ![]() In particular, they almost don’t see the red and yellow but are lured by the blue and green. Mosquitoes do not perceive all colors of the light equally. The wavelength range is another key factor. Secondly, they are cost-efficient and operate longer. Studies demonstrate that LED bulb traps help catch more pests than conventional ones, epidemiologists discovered. The difference is that LED bulbs consume less energy and at the same time they really look brighter. Bulbs with less amount of lumens should not be considered as they are not productive enough to attain an objective. The best mosquito zapper should be fitted with a lamp that has 1100 lumens and more.įor comparison, an 1100-lumen lamp is adequate to a 100-watt regular lamp while a 750-lumen lamp is about as bright as a 75-watt regular lamp. ![]() But when measuring the bulb brightness, don’t look at wattages since it is the number of lumens that matters. The brighter it is, the more insects are brought in. So, scientists at Nebraska-Lincoln University have revealed that traps fitted with LED bulbs produce more intensive light while consuming less energy compared to incandescent lamps. The studies demonstrate that LED lamps are brighter than regular ones and, hence, produce better results. An important role here play its brightness and color. How Scientists Assess Bug Zapper EffectivenessĪs we can see, the efficiency of a bug zapper is mainly attributable to the lamp’s capability of drawing particular pests. Some models allow for placing baits in the trap as an additional attractant but since most of such baits are chemical ones, they are not advised for the use indoors. The main enticement here is the light and this is why researchers are grappling with a problem of enhancing the lamp productivity. But prior to this, the insect has to be lured into the trap and this task is the most complicated one. Sometimes, the contact is not strong enough and the mosquito just falls down paralyzed. Once the insect contacts the metal grid, it is instantly fried by an electric shock. How does it function? The very idea is simple: it kills mosquitoes by electrocuting them. ![]() Now, with the technologies developed, we have much more affordable and efficient bug zappers. The bug zapper as we know it was created by a Californian professor in 1934, who developed a model close to those we have now. Another attempt took place in 1932 and at that time it was patented. However, the first bug zapper turned out to be too expensive and was not successful on the market. The major difference perhaps is that present-day products mostly contain LED bulbs whereas their prototype was fitted with incandescent bulbs.īesides, the producer suggested baiting the trap with meat. It comprised all key elements of a modern bug zapper, such as electric light and electrified grid. Actually, the first bug zapper was invented as far back as 1911 and was advertised by Popular Mechanics as a fly trap. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |