Every night time, a mass assassin stalks the darkness of America’s suburbs. An eerie blue glow lures hapless victims from their properties. The doomed souls, mesmerized by the light, throng to their deaths in scorching blasts of electricity. I’m speaking in regards to the bug zapper. Many people use the device to rid themselves of mosquitoes and different pests. "Kill flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and wasps," touts Black and Decker. Flowtron will help eliminate flying pests over up to "2 acres" for Zap Zone Defender Setup simply $315. Another advertises itself as an "eco-friendly" way to "instantly kill" mosquitoes. The issue? None of those claims are true, scientists say. In fact, bug zappers make it extra seemingly you’ll be bitten by mosquitoes while sitting in your yard. "When it comes to mosquitoes, bug zappers don’t work," says James Fordyce, Zap Zone Defender an entomologist on the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Bug zappers are exceptional killers of bugs - simply not the ones that chew you. Among the many hundreds of insects these gadgets electrocute each evening, nearly all are harmless.

One examine estimated even a fraction of the bug zappers bought in the United States kill more than 70 billion insects annually - with no discernible affect on mosquitoes or other biting insects. This pointless slaughter of native insect populations could also be hastening the decline of species, the insect apocalypse. I talked to specialists about why bug zappers are a very dangerous concept to eliminate mosquitoes - and what works instead. Bug zappers purport to work by attracting mosquitoes, sometimes utilizing a lightbulb that emits ultraviolet mild, or Zap Zone Defender System generally carbon dioxide or chemical bait. Yet research present just about no mosquitoes or other biting insects ever enter a zapper. In 1997, the University of Florida’s medical entomological laboratory tallied the dying toll from one bug zapper over a single night: 10,000 insects. Just eight have been mosquitoes. Similar studies reflected these findings. Around the same time, researchers at the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to trap 13,789 insects over a summer season.

Only 31 - 0.22 % - have been biting insects similar to mosquitoes and gnats. What did it kill? Beneficial bugs, principally. Roughly half the victims - 6,670 insects - were harmless aquatic species from nearby rivers and streams, fish meals in the aquatic meals chain. Many of the others had been parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes. Mosquitoes usually are not fooled by zappers because, together with other bloodsucking insects, they've advanced to home in on animals’ exhaled carbon dioxide, not ultraviolet mild, scientists say. Even when mosquitoes are drawn in by a bug zapper, they'll instantly redirect their consideration to their favourite foods: Zap Zone warmblooded mammals, Zap Zone Defender Setup especially humans. And Colorado State University’s extension service has reached the identical conclusion: "No managed scientific research has shown that these devices reduce mosquito biting rates outdoors," it states on its website. None responded with materials supporting their claims after a number of inquiries.

Black and Decker referred all questions to a contract producer, which additionally did not respond. These claims not only mislead patrons by ignoring scientific proof, however they could create a false sense of security for individuals who use these devices to guard against mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, Fordyce said. "If one want to keep away from being bit, a repellent is the answer," he says. "Even if zappers worked … The FTC, whereas not commenting on the companies’ advertising statements, famous that it had investigated deceptive statements and safety points up to now issuing warning letters and filing cases against manufacturers of different forms of pest control, akin to ultrasonic devices. FTC officials beneficial the public submit any complaints by means of their webpage. What does repel mosquitoes? Bug zappers are just one among many suspect products promising to get rid of biting insects: ultrasonic devices, propane-fired CO2 traps, and pesticide misters are among these that don't work, or do extra hurt than good, in keeping with Texas A&M.