Every night, a mass murderer stalks the darkness of America’s suburbs. An eerie blue glow lures hapless victims from their homes. The doomed souls, mesmerized by the light, Defender by Zap Zone throng to their deaths in scorching blasts of electricity. I’m talking about the bug zapper. Many people use the system to rid themselves of mosquitoes and Zap Zone Defender other pests. "Kill flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and wasps," touts Black and Decker. Flowtron will assist eliminate flying pests over as much as "2 acres" for Zap Zone Defender just $315. Another advertises itself as an "eco-friendly" approach to "instantly kill" mosquitoes. The issue? None of those claims are true, ZapZone Defender scientists say. In reality, bug zappers make it more possible you’ll be bitten by mosquitoes whereas sitting in your backyard. "When it involves mosquitoes, bug zappers don’t work," says James Fordyce, an entomologist at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Bug zappers are exceptional killers of bugs - just not the ones that chew you. Among the thousands of insects these units electrocute each evening, Zap Zone Defender almost all are harmless.

One study estimated even a fraction of the bug zappers sold within the United States kill greater than 70 billion insects yearly - with no discernible impact on mosquitoes or different 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 extremely dangerous thought to get rid of mosquitoes - and what works as a substitute. Bug zappers purport to work by attracting mosquitoes, Zap Zone Defender Device typically using a lightbulb that emits ultraviolet mild, Zap Zone Defender or typically carbon dioxide or Zap Zone Defender chemical bait. Yet studies present virtually no mosquitoes or Zap Zone Defender 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 those findings. Around the identical time, researchers on the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to lure 13,789 insects over a summer.

Only 31 - 0.22 p.c - have been biting insects such as mosquitoes and gnats. What did it kill? Beneficial bugs, Zap Zone Defender largely. Roughly half the victims - 6,670 insects - have been harmless aquatic species from nearby rivers and streams, Zap Zone Defender fish meals within the aquatic meals chain. Most of the others had been parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes. Mosquitoes should not fooled by zappers because, along with different bloodsucking insects, they've advanced to residence in on animals’ exhaled carbon dioxide, not ultraviolet light, scientists say. Even if mosquitoes are drawn in by a bug zapper, they'll instantly redirect their attention to their favorite foods: warmblooded mammals, especially humans. And Colorado State University’s extension service has reached the identical conclusion: "No controlled scientific study has proven that these units cut back mosquito biting rates outdoors," it states on its webpage. None responded with materials supporting their claims after multiple inquiries.

Black and Decker referred all inquiries to a contract producer, which additionally didn't respond. These claims not solely mislead consumers by ignoring scientific proof, however they might create a false sense of security for individuals who use these units to guard towards mosquito-borne diseases within the United States, Fordyce said. "If one wish to keep away from being bit, a repellent is the solution," he says. "Even if zappers worked … The FTC, whereas not commenting on the companies’ advertising and marketing statements, noted that it had investigated deceptive statements and security issues in the past issuing warning letters and filing cases in opposition to manufacturers of other types of pest control, resembling ultrasonic units. FTC officials recommended the public submit any complaints by their web site. What does repel mosquitoes? Bug zappers are just one in every of many suspect products promising to get rid of biting insects: ultrasonic units, propane-fired CO2 traps, and pesticide misters are among those that do not work, or do more harm than good, in response to Texas A&M.