Mosquito traps are devices that trap and kill mosquitoes, helping to rid the space around you of these insects. Mosquitoes are responsible for spreading multiple viruses and other diseases, and they leave itchy bites behind. You shouldn’t have to keep your windows closed or avoid your porch in the evening just because mosquitoes exist. A mosquito trap can help you get your life back.
Though there are multiple different types of mosquito trap, they tend to operate using the same basic principle. The goal is to attract a mosquito into a space that it cannot exit. When the insect enters the trap, it’s either poisoned by a substance inside, or it dies of dehydration because it doesn’t have access to blood.
Mosquitoes tend to be attracted to water, heat, and the smell of humans. Different traps use these factors in different ways to attract insects. Some traps use multiple attractants, while others use just one.
Before getting into the best traps, though, it’s important to understand the differences between design types. This will allow you to determine what kind of design is best for your household or space.
Types of Mosquito Trap
CO2
A CO2 trap attracts mosquitoes by imitating the breathing of a human. The trap itself releases carbon dioxide in a rhythmic way. When mosquitoes feel the carbon dioxide, they think that the trap indicates the presence of a human. They move over to the trap and attempt to alight on it, at which point they become trapped.
The range of influence of a CO2 trap can vary. It’s possible that the carbon dioxide will be detectable by mosquitoes at distances of several dozen meters, allowing you to clear a large circumference surrounding the trap.
Propane Devices
Propane devices are often discussed as the “gold standard” of mosquito traps. They are the most powerful ones and have the largest range of influence. Because of the level of efficacy, propane devices tend to be the most expensive traps on the market. Unfortunately, they’re only designed for outdoor use, so they’re not a good bet for people who want indoor coverage.
Propane traps use complex inner workings to attract mosquitoes in large outdoor areas. Their main method of working is through oxidized propane. The trap is built with oxidized propane, which is capable of producing both CO2 and moisture. CO2 attracts mosquitoes because it indicates that an animal is breathing nearby. Moisture attracts both mosquitoes and other species of winged insect.
Most people who use propane traps are trying to clear a large land area. The sturdy construction and complication of these traps makes them too big a hassle and expense for people with smaller areas that need treating.
H2O
The use of poison and chemicals in certain traps is, understandably, concerning. While poisoned traps are generally fine for outdoor use, provided they’re out of reach of children and pets, they shouldn’t be brought into the home. Many people want a natural alternative to pesticides and other chemical poisons to make sure their home and family are safe.
That’s where H2O traps come in. These are non-toxic traps that don’t incorporate potentially harmful ingredients. Non-toxic traps are particularly important for individuals with chronic health issues, young children, and small apartment spaces. While H2O traps are a go-to for indoor use, they’re also effective outdoors.
H2O traps use water and moisture to attract mosquitoes. But once the mosquito lands, it is unable to leave the trap. It becomes submerged in the water and eventually drowns. Because H2O traps tend to have moderate price tags and high efficacy rates, they sell much more easily than propane traps. If the heavy-duty nature of a propane trap was a little more than you needed, an H2O trap will probably do the trick.
Heat
A heat trap uses heat to attract insects. These traps aren’t very good to use in small spaces because of the amount of heat they generate. Instead, they’re optimized for use inside a very large house or outdoors. Heat traps are much more expensive than many other options.
They also aren’t as effective as other traps you can get in the same price point, and they eat up a lot of energy. Within the same price range, you could buy a bug zapper, which uses electricity to kill bugs at a fraction of the cost of a heat trap. Because of this, they aren’t very popular options.
UV Indoor
The last kind of trap is a UV indoor trap. Mosquitoes are attracted to light, as are many other winged insects. One of the major appeals of an indoor UV trap is that it doesn’t release odors and unpleasant gases. The trap doesn’t use poison or pesticides, and it doesn’t have fluid that can begin smelling bad.
Instead, UV traps attract bugs through light. The brighter the bulb, the wider the range of influence. The most powerful UV traps can eliminate bugs in a full acre, which is more than 45,000 square feet. Light traps are some of the most effective and inexpensive options on the market.
The one drawback of UV traps is that the bulbs will need replacing when they burn out. Depending on the quality of the bulb and the amount you’re using the lamp, this could happen fairly quickly. If you intend to have the lamp running 24 hours a day, it’s best to stock up on bulbs when you make the initial purchase.
Best Mosquito Trap for Yard
#1. DynaTrap DT1775
This is one of the most versatile insect traps on the market because it can be used both outdoors and indoors. When used outdoors, the UV light it emits can attract mosquitoes and other insects from the surrounding acre of land. It’s a great choice if you have a huge yard.
The two UV bulbs are extra-large size. The construction includes weatherproofing so it can continue functioning through sun, rain, and snow. As a light trap, this trap doesn’t have any chemicals or pesticides, and you don’t need to fill it with propane or attractant.
#2. DynaTrap 1/2 Acre Pole Mount
This is a more aesthetically appealing mosquito trap for those who want their yard to be quaint and homey. It has the look of a lamppost from a fantasy story. Though the trap can’t protect an entire acre, it can protect half an acre. That’s well over twenty thousand square feet. Most people don’t have half an acre of yard.
The all-weather construction makes it great for yards year-round. It doesn’t emit odors or use pesticides. As a water trap, you don’t need to use propane or attractants, and the trap is nearly silent.
Best Mosquito Trap for Patio
#1. DynaTrap DT250IN Indoor Insect Trap
This is a great trap to use both on your patio and inside the house. It can provide up to 1,000 square feet of coverage, enough to cover most porches and patios. As it’s another UV trap, there aren’t any chemicals or pesticides.
One thing that makes this trap great for patio use is how lightweight and portable it is. You can bring it out with you and easily bring it back in when you’re done. It can also be placed anywhere in the home, and it doesn’t emit any odors.
#2. Katchy Indoor Insect Trap
This insect trap is a great choice for small patios, porches, and indoor spaces. It can cover a little over 300 square feet. The trap uses UV light as its primary form of attraction, with the fan pulling insects inside. Rather than using pesticides, poisons, or water, the trap is outfitted with glue sheets. You will need to replace the glue sheets with fair frequency.
Final Thoughts
When you’re determining which mosquito trap is best for you, you’ll need to keep your needs in mind. Different traps are built to serve different purposes. For indoor traps, you’ll want a non-toxic and low-maintenance design. For outdoor traps, you’ll want something that’s effective enough for its price tag.
If you need a trap for a small indoor space, the Katchy is a great option. The DynaTrap DT250IN is an indoor trap that has about three times as much space coverage.
The DynaTrap pole mount is an ideal outside option if you want an aesthetic trap that uses water instead of light, electricity, or heat. Meanwhile, if you want the versatility of a trap that can be used both outdoors and indoors, the DynaTrap DT1775 has you covered.