Outdoor bug zappers... Drop some knowledge on me.

[L_O_G]

Went up to my property two weekends ago, and even with a nice campfire roaring all of us got eaten alive by mosquitos. Looking for an outdoor unit, preferably one that hangs, and will zap the shit out of the little bastards at first touch. My in-laws brought up two table lamp units that they said reviews were great on, but they didn't do shit but lure the bugs into a buffet. Several times we saw the bugs actually hit the lamp and fly back away.

What are you using?

[golddigger14s]

bug zappers=snake oil

[L_O_G]

bug zappers=snake oil

Negative.

The bug zapper that we had up there before it was broken in a storm was my wife's Grandpa's and it looked like it was from the 60's. Probably made with some type of nuclear core.

If it flied it died.

[AR15L]

I love mine!

[Sinus211]

We live just down the street from a wetland area (mosquito farm). A good repellent an a bunch of those citronella candles in the bucket, or the citronella torches seems to work pretty well.

Or, fun fact, 5.11 tactical pants are teflon coated. Mosquitoes can't bite through them.

Or, if you hate your friends think of fighting off mosquitoes as being like running from a bear and shooting your buddy in the leg. If you wear repellent but your friends don't, you'll be safe. Just need to make others a more attractive target than you.

[RusoArmo]

My buddy has one of those Coleman lanterns that use the green propane containers. Fucker gets hot.

When mosquito hit it, they don't fly away.

[Yondering]

bug zappers=snake oil

Negative.

The bug zapper that we had up there before it was broken in a storm was my wife's Grandpa's and it looked like it was from the 60's. Probably made with some type of nuclear core.

If it flied it died.

Agreed. As kids we used to have a great time sitting around the bug zapper watching things get fried. I swear some of those would probably kill a bird.

I bought one last year though that is really disappointing. Black Flag brand IIRC, and one of the more powerful units. The UV light attracts the bugs just fine, but the electrified wire mesh is so large that mosquitoes often fly right through unharmed. When they do get "zapped", it's just a slow electrocution, no sparks or arcs; it takes 2-4 minutes to kill a mosquito. It's only useful in an enclosed space with a finite bug population, like a garage, otherwise it attracts more bugs than it kills. Pretty pathetic IMO, the old units were both more entertaining and more "humane" if anyone cares about that.

If anyone knows where to buy a good bug zapper lantern that lights them up like the old ones, please let me know, I want one.

[Bxc53]

Went up to my property two weekends ago, and even with a nice campfire roaring all of us got eaten alive by mosquitos. Looking for an outdoor unit, preferably one that hangs, and will zap the shit out of the little bastards at first touch. My in-laws brought up two table lamp units that they said reviews were great on, but they didn't do shit but lure the bugs into a buffet. Several times we saw the bugs actually hit the lamp and fly back away.

What are you using?

For mosquitoes specifically, look for the type that emits Co2 to lure them into a one-way trap device. They are attracted to the Co2 we exhale, so a stronger source is best to get them.
I like a zapped bug as much as the next guy, but this has a better chance to get a skeeter-free experience.

Good luck.

[os2firefox]

My in-laws brought up two table lamp units that they said reviews were great on, but they didn't do shit but lure the bugs into a buffet.

Don't put the zapper where you hang out. Instead, put it away from you, duh. You want the zapper to attract the bugs away from you...

[L_O_G]

My in-laws brought up two table lamp units that they said reviews were great on, but they didn't do shit but lure the bugs into a buffet.

Don't put the zapper where you hang out. Instead, put it away from you, duh. You want the zapper to attract the bugs away from you...

It wouldn't have mattered where they were placed, they weren't killing them. It was just drawing them in from all over probably more so than if we never had them going in the first place.

[cmica]

plant some of these and you wont have to worry



Lavender
Peppermint
Rosemary
Marigolds
Lemon balm
Eucalyptus


some where along the line I heard catnip is better than deet

[Selador]

Gut your microwave and tie the transformer into your bug zapper...

[WaJim]

We used to call it the "Bundy Light"

The bird cage style with the black light worked the best...a moth would take 5 seconds to fry and it would smoke when it was zapping.

Find an old one at a yard sale.

The new designs probably suck. More bug friendly at a lower voltage.

You need the one that'll dim the kitchen light if a Junebug gets zapped.

Like most stuff we had as kids ,,,the new improved models were rarely improved....refrigerators included.

[TINCANBANDIT]

another option.....find where they lay their eggs and dump a quart or less (depending on size of pond) of oil (your choice) into it. It will coat the eggs and suffocate them

[L_O_G]

My property is on a lake