Mosquito Traps

In the perpetual quest to rid the world of mosquitoes, devices that are designed to lure mosquitoes in and then trap or kill them are gaining in popularity. The alternatives, such as bathing yourself in insect repellent or immerging yourself in a plume of smoke generated by candles or coils, just aren’t cutting it.

There are a number of different mosquito trap models on the market, such as the Lentek mosquito trap, the Costco mosquito trap and the Mosquito Magnet trap; you can even build a mosquito trap yourself. Each trap is slightly different from the others. For example, the different models differ in their power supplies; some depend on propane for power and for the creation of carbon dioxide, used to attract mosquitoes to the trap. Many consumers enjoy the portability of these models, and even around the home itself, they can be placed far from electrical outlets and main areas of activity. In this way, theoretically, mosquitoes should be history long before they get anywhere near you.

As for price, though, these portable mosquito and propane trap units don’t come cheap. If you want something a bit less expensive, you can opt for a trap that uses power cords that plug into AC outlets; the majority of mosquito traps work with power cords. One of the main drawbacks of these units, however, is that they can be used only in areas that are reachable by extension cords, so their range of action is a bit limited.

The manufacturers of these traps claim to be able to reduce the female, egg-laying population by way of an attractant that lures them into some kind of device that will either simply catch them or kill them; a mosquito trap with a box fan, for example, may suction mosquitoes in and use the power of the fan to create enough wind pressure to kill the mosquitoes. Female mosquitoes are the ones responsible for biting humans, and they are attracted to their prey by a variety of scents and body heat.

The attractant used in these traps aims to imitate these cues, mainly through the use of carbon dioxide combined with another chemical; insects that have no interest in humans will be left completely alone. Other traps will also use a sound pulse that has the purpose of mimicking a human heartbeat; there are also mosquito light trap models. Many units also come with systems to make humans in the area seem less appealing to hungry mosquitoes.

Choosing the best mosquito trap will entail doing some research. When looking for mosquito traps for sale, make sure you read a mosquito trap review or two on the model you are considering; read reviews regarding all models and different opinions as to whether or not mosquito traps really work. There are also websites that give a rating to mosquito traps, after having performed something like Mosquito Magnet vs. a Mosquito PowerTrap tests; check out as many websites of this nature as possible.