Every evening, 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 sunshine, throng to their deaths in scorching blasts of electricity. I’m talking about 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 remove flying pests over up to "2 acres" for simply $315. Another advertises itself as an "eco-friendly" method to "instantly kill" mosquitoes. The problem? None of these claims are true, scientists say. In fact, bug zappers make it extra likely you’ll be bitten by mosquitoes while 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 distinctive killers of bugs - just not those that chew you. Among the thousands of insects these gadgets electrocute each night time, Zap Zone Defender virtually all are harmless.

One examine estimated even a fraction of the bug zappers offered in the United States kill more than 70 billion insects annually - with no discernible affect 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 experts about why bug zappers are a extremely bad concept to do away with mosquitoes - and what works as a substitute. Bug zappers purport to work by attracting mosquitoes, usually utilizing a lightbulb that emits ultraviolet gentle, or Zap Zone Defender typically carbon dioxide or chemical bait. Yet research present nearly 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 evening: 10,000 insects. Just eight had been mosquitoes. Similar studies mirrored these findings. Around the same time, researchers at the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to entice 13,789 insects over a summer time.

Only 31 - 0.22 % - were biting insects resembling mosquitoes and gnats. What did it kill? Beneficial bugs, mostly. Roughly half the victims - 6,670 insects - have been harmless aquatic species from nearby rivers and Zap Zone Defender streams, fish food in the aquatic food chain. Many of the others have been parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes. Mosquitoes usually are not fooled by zappers because, along with different bloodsucking insects, they have advanced to house in on animals’ exhaled carbon dioxide, not ultraviolet light, scientists say. Even when mosquitoes are drawn in by a bug zapper, they may instantly redirect their attention to their favourite foods: warmblooded mammals, especially humans. And Colorado State University’s extension service has reached the identical conclusion: "No controlled scientific research has proven that these units cut back mosquito biting charges outdoors," it states on its web site. None responded with materials supporting their claims after multiple inquiries.

Black and Decker referred all questions to a contract producer, which also didn't respond. These claims not solely mislead patrons by ignoring scientific proof, however they could create a false sense of safety for Zap Zone Defender individuals who use these units to protect against mosquito-borne diseases in the United States, Fordyce stated. "If one want to keep away from being bit, a repellent is the solution," he says. "Even if zappers labored … The FTC, while not commenting on the companies’ advertising and marketing statements, noted that it had investigated misleading statements and safety issues prior to now issuing warning letters and filing circumstances towards manufacturers of other forms of pest management, similar to ultrasonic units. FTC officials recommended the general public submit any complaints via their website. What does repel mosquitoes? Bug zappers are just one in all many suspect merchandise promising to do away with biting insects: ultrasonic units, propane-fired CO2 traps, and pesticide misters are amongst those that do not work, or do extra hurt than good, in keeping with Texas A&M.