Organic Insecticides | Organic Pesticides | EcoSMART Bug Spray

What Are Your Natural Mosquito Trap Options?

March 24th, 2010 Posted in Mosquitoes & Repellent

As consumers, we like to have choices. It makes us feel like we are in charge and knowledgeable of our purchasing options. But sometimes, the number of options out there are overwhelming.

So let’s make picking a natural mosquito trap easy.

The best way to do this is compare different types of traps and then discuss ways to prevent mosquitoes in the first place.

Want to know more about? Keep reading to learn about:

• Bug Zappers
• Mosquito Magnets
• How to Prevent Before You Trap

Bug Zappers

One of the most common ways homeowners kill off mosquitoes is with bug zappers.

But do they work?
Well, sort off. Yes, they trap mosquitoes by luring them in and then “zapping” them. But that’s not the whole story.

Also called black light insect electrocution devices, it is estimated that 1.75 million bug zappers are purchased each year in the United States. By placing this natural mosquito trap on your porch, it can attract and kill thousands of bugs in a day.

But here’s the catch, studies conducted at Notre Dame found mosquitoes made up less than 7% of insects caught each day of a season.

More importantly, they did not find a major difference in the number of mosquitoes found in yards with zappers compared to those without bug zappers. Most of the insects caught were not pests and many were even beneficial to the environment.

So it seems mosquitoes are more attracted to humans for their tasty blood supply than a natural mosquito trap like a zapper. A better option may be to keep an organic insect killer nearby so you can shoot down the right pests whenever you spot them.

Mosquito Magnets

Another popular type of natural mosquito trap is a mosquito magnet.

How Mosquito Magnet Traps Work
Biting insects like female mosquitoes (the males don’t bite) seek out human sustenance through the carbon dioxide we exhale. We we breath out, it draws them in as if to say, “Dinner’s ready!”

Mosquito magnets simulate a human exhaling by using propane, heat and moisture. They also use naturally occurring octenol and carbon dioxide to lure the pests in.

Once trapped, there is not human blood to feed them and mosquitoes eventually dehydrate and die.

So what’s the downside?
While the concept behind mosquito traps is fascinating, they are actually quite expensive. The octenol and propane alone are pricey, they need to be replaced every 21 days.

And the estimated monthly cost to keep these magnets full of octenol and propane is $14 to $24.

Here’s an idea. Instead of spending all that money on magnets, try preventative organic home pest control first.

How to Prevent Before You Trap

These are 5 ways to naturally repel and prevent mosquitoes. Use these, and you can worry less about your need for a natural mosquito trap.

1. Remove standing water sources and keep gutters clean.
2. Change birdbaths, wading pools and outdoor pet water bowls twice a week.
3. While barbecuing, throw rosemary and sage on coals to repel mosquitoes.
4. Plant marigolds around your yard (mosquitoes hate the smell).
5. Use outdoor fans, mosquitoes can’t fly in the breeze.

Trapping is great, but like all pest problems, prevention is key.

Now that you know your mosquito control options, picking a natural mosquito trap can be a less daunting task.