Every night, a mass assassin stalks the darkness of America’s suburbs. An eerie blue glow lures hapless victims from their homes. The doomed souls, mesmerized by the light, throng to their deaths in sizzling blasts of electricity. I’m speaking in regards to the bug zapper. Many people use the system to rid themselves of mosquitoes and different pests. "Kill flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and wasps," touts Black and Decker. Flowtron will assist get rid of flying pests over as much as "2 acres" for simply $315. Another advertises itself as an "eco-friendly" option to "instantly kill" mosquitoes. The problem? None of these claims are true, scientists say. In truth, bug zappers make it more likely you’ll be bitten by mosquitoes whereas sitting in your yard. "When it involves mosquitoes, bug zappers don’t work," says James Fordyce, an entomologist on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Bug zappers are exceptional killers of bugs - just not those that bite you. Among the many thousands of insects these devices electrocute every evening, virtually all are harmless.

One study estimated even a fraction of the bug zappers offered in the United States kill more than 70 billion insects yearly - with no discernible influence on mosquitoes or different biting insects. This pointless slaughter of local insect populations could also be hastening the decline of species, the insect apocalypse. I talked to consultants about why bug zappers are a very bad thought to get rid of mosquitoes - and what works as a substitute. Bug zappers purport to work by attracting mosquitoes, sometimes using a lightbulb that emits ultraviolet gentle, or sometimes carbon dioxide or chemical bait. Yet studies present just about no mosquitoes or different biting insects ever enter a zapper. In 1997, the University of Florida’s medical entomological laboratory tallied the demise toll from one bug zapper over a single night: 10,000 insects. Just eight had been mosquitoes. Similar research mirrored these findings. Around the identical time, researchers at the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to lure 13,789 insects over a summer season.

Only 31 - 0.22 p.c - have been biting insects equivalent to mosquitoes and gnats. What did it kill? Beneficial bugs, mostly. Roughly half the victims - 6,670 insects - were harmless aquatic species from close by rivers and streams, Zap Zone Defender fish food within the aquatic food chain. Many of the others were parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are usually not fooled by zappers as a result of, along with other bloodsucking insects, they have advanced to residence in on animals’ exhaled carbon dioxide, not ultraviolet mild, insect elimination scientists say. Even when mosquitoes are drawn in by a bug zapper, they are going to instantly redirect their attention to their favorite foods: Zap Zone Defender warmblooded mammals, particularly people. And Zap Zone Defender USA Colorado State University’s extension service has reached the identical conclusion: "No managed scientific research has proven that these units scale back mosquito biting rates outdoors," it states on its web site. None responded with material supporting their claims after multiple inquiries.

Black and Decker referred all inquiries to a contract producer, which also didn't reply. These claims not solely mislead buyers by ignoring scientific proof, however they could create a false sense of security for individuals who use these gadgets to protect against mosquito-borne diseases within the United States, Zap Zone Defender Fordyce mentioned. "If one wish to avoid being bit, a repellent is the answer," he says. "Even if zappers labored … The FTC, while not commenting on the companies’ marketing statements, famous that it had investigated misleading statements and safety issues up to now issuing warning letters and filing instances in opposition to manufacturers of different types of pest control, such as ultrasonic units. FTC officials advisable the general public submit any complaints by their web site. What does repel mosquitoes? Bug zappers are simply one of many suspect products promising to do away with biting insects: ultrasonic units, propane-fired CO2 traps, and pesticide misters are among these that don't work, or do extra hurt than good, according to Texas A&M.