Mosquito & Biting Fly Traps

New mosquito traps work by luring adult mosquitoes, black flies and other biting flies, into a trap with a combination of odors and/or UV light. The artificially generated odors are those that adult female mosquitoes, the stage that bites, would normally use to locate a host animal and meal.

How do mosquito traps work?

From a long distance biting flies and mosquitoes use sight to find their hosts. But, from shorter distances they use odor. Because all of us exhale carbon dioxide these insects "smell" carbon dioxide to locate a host. At very close range mosquitoes and biting flies may use the odor of sweat. Some of the new traps also use an artificial sweat, octenol, to enhance the trap's effectiveness.

Mosquito traps produce carbon dioxide gas by burning propane in a device that looks a bit like a one-burner gas grill. Many traps use the artificial octenol lure as well.

You should place your trap well away from human activity because the traps will actually increase mosquitoes and other biting flies in the immediate area of the traps. These new traps are preferable to blacklight ("bug zapper") type traps because they don't attract and kill beneficial species.

See this informative article from the University of Florida Extension about using mosquito traps.

Related information: [controlling mosquito larvae], [mosquito repellents], [black light traps]

Mosquito Traps @ Amazon

Be realistic in your expectations. No trap will be 100% effective. Continue to eliminate standing water, in which mosquitoes breed, and wear mosquito repellents.