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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsDo bug zappers cut down on the biting insects? Not so much. But they kill helpful fliers, evidently
Beat the paywall with this link I can share with my WaPo subscription
https://wapo.st/3r6D1tR]
studies show virtually no mosquitoes or other biting insects ever enter a zapper.
In 1997, the University of Floridas medical entomological laboratory tallied the death toll from one bug zapper over a single night: 10,000 insects. Just eight were mosquitoes. Similar studies reflected those findings.
Around the same time, researchers at the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to trap 13,789 insects over a summer. Only 31 0.22 percent were biting insects such as mosquitoes and gnats. What did it kill? Beneficial bugs, mostly. Roughly half the victims 6,670 insects were harmless aquatic species from nearby rivers and streams, fish food in the aquatic food chain. Many of the others were parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes.
In 1997, the University of Floridas medical entomological laboratory tallied the death toll from one bug zapper over a single night: 10,000 insects. Just eight were mosquitoes. Similar studies reflected those findings.
Around the same time, researchers at the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to trap 13,789 insects over a summer. Only 31 0.22 percent were biting insects such as mosquitoes and gnats. What did it kill? Beneficial bugs, mostly. Roughly half the victims 6,670 insects were harmless aquatic species from nearby rivers and streams, fish food in the aquatic food chain. Many of the others were parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes.
My nearly 70 years of personal experience, as a delicacy skitters and gnats love to bite, concurs with the scientific studies. Not fond of spraying on the DEET, but it is the only add-on that has ever worked for me. A box fan blowing on me when I pull weeds is the other effective method I have tried, and I have tried 'em all.
When bothered by bees while out in the garden, I have found a couple saucers with a dash of Margarita mix pour in them, set away from where I am working usually works fine. DO NOT give the bees tequila. The spouse dropped an actual Margarita on the patio once. We had a bunch of bees flying drunkenly around for 2 days.
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Do bug zappers cut down on the biting insects? Not so much. But they kill helpful fliers, evidently (Original Post)
Attilatheblond
Sep 2023
OP
hlthe2b
(111,758 posts)1. Well, they do work well for fruit flies (even if you DIY the vinegar/sugar red wine + soap solution
Mosquitoes are like roaches... They, unfortunately. persist regardless. Mosquitoes need CO2 traps--something not really practical indoors or in continuous use.
IbogaProject
(5,206 posts)2. Two tricks with Mosquitoes
Just having shallow standing water containers, which get emptied once or twice a week. Second is I like Picardin as it also repels flies and gnats, it isn't as good as DEET but very close and bonus with the flies and gnats which Deet doesn't repel.
Attilatheblond
(7,517 posts)3. Good to know
Will look into it and give it a try. Life is all about the experiments!
Gnat bites can be really bad for me. Some types of them will make me ill for days.