Mega-Catch vs. Mosquito Magnet | Comparison
In this guide, you will learn about the ten best mosquito traps, their types, peculiarities, advantages, and disadvantages. Are these devices effective? Which models are designed for indoor use, and which should be located outdoors? A comparative chart will help you decide between the available options. Learn about properties you should consider when making a purchase.
I hate bugs, don’t you? This goes especially for ones that bite unprovoked, such as the most hated insect in the world, the mosquito. These things are absolute hell in Florida, a humid, tropical climate with a lot of swampland.
- What is the Best Mosquito Trap: Mega-Catch vs. Mosquito Magnet
- How A Mosquito Trap Works: Explaining The Technologies Behind
- Types Of Traps And Their Catch Systems
- Traps Vs. Foggers
- Where Can I Use Mosquito Traps?
- Where Should You Put Mosquito Traps?
What is the Best Mosquito Trap: Mega-Catch vs. Mosquito Magnet
1. Mosquito Trap with Dual-Trap Method UV + Heat | Mega-Catch Pro 900 Premier Review
This one’s outstanding technology is really how it works with UV, using pulsation and heat variation to emulate the fluctuation of the human body and producing a range of frequencies that attract a wide variety of species.
- Attraction: Heat, UV.
- Kill Method: Trap chamber and vacuum.
- Form Factor: Tower.
- Range: ¾+ acre.
- Safe Range: Any.
- Can be used indoors: No.
- Waterproof: No.
This is an interesting approach to attraction, with modulated LED for UV. I would be skeptical of LEDs attracting mosquitos as well as other lighting methods, which may be part of why it also has a secondary attractant system optionally available to further its effectiveness.
But, according to research, this concept should work well.
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Conclusion
This is intriguing, and I see some ideas coming from this in future implementations. However, I’m a little reticent to recommend this to anyone unless they want to try new technologies.
2. Higher-Powered Implementation | Mega-Catch Pro 900 Ultra Review
This one is a higher-powered version of the previous one, complete with a stand and a more powerful trapping mechanism. It has about the same range, and it uses the same basic technologies, but it focuses more on balancing established concepts, making it a bit less of a prototype concept.
- Attraction: Heat, UV.
- Kill Method: Trap chamber and vacuum.
- Form Factor: Tower.
- Range: ¾+ acre.
- Safe Range: Any.
- Can be used indoors: No.
- Waterproof: No.
Again, this is an intriguing idea. This one relies more heavily on traditional methods but still tries out the idea of modulated heat signatures and UV pulses to fill a wide range of mosquito species into being trapped.
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Conclusion
Once more, I’d like to see this concept proven with some more reliable killing means in place. Still, I am reticent to recommend this to anyone that doesn’t have other traps in place because the reliability of this approach hasn’t been adequately vetted yet. It was expensive!
3. High-End Vacuum Mosquito Trap | Multiple Attraction | Magnet MM3300B
This trap uses every attraction method to lure mosquitoes into its grip, with a vacuum and net to capture them. Using carbon dioxide, heat, and moisture, this is a massive device meant for large gatherings or safety in public.
- Attraction: Attractants, heat, moisture, CO2.
- Kill Method: Trap chamber and vacuum.
- Form Factor: It’s on wheels.
- Range: 1 acre.
- Safe Range: Any.
- Can be used indoors: No.
- Waterproof: No.
This one is suited best for large gatherings in parks, out in nature, or on large properties. If you’re having a 4th of July picnic, for example, one of these bad boys would do the trick, though this thing is expensive and requires a lot of tending to.
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Conclusion
For large gatherings, this is probably one of the most effective ones out there. But, it’s a lot of work and very expensive, so it’s a bit of a commitment to use this one. Still, you can’t argue with the results.
How Traps Differ
There are several factors to consider when shopping for a trap because there’s a lot of variety with these, and some are more suited for things than others. So, let’s go over some of these now.
- Location – Do you plan to use one indoors or somewhere with carpet or flammable surfaces? You’ll want one that doesn’t use heat/fire or electricity to kill the bugs.
- Climate – Does it rain a lot while you use this? Then you’ll want to be sure it’s waterproof or designed to keep water out of the mechanisms if it uses electricity or heat.
- Do you have cats? – If you have cats, you’ll want to make sure it’s not one they can quickly pounce, as they love to chase bugs, and the flickering of a zapper may also entice them.
- Noise – Electrical ones make a lot of pop and hissing and buzzing sounds as they kill insects. So, if this kind of noise bothers you, you may want propane, UV, water trap, or perhaps one of the vacuum models.
- Ease of use – The easiest ones are the electrical ones, which need only power and perhaps an attractant. In contrast, water traps, propane traps, CO2 traps, and other such technologies need things refilled, repaired, and replaced often. This can make them expensive if you’re in an area where you’re combatting massive swarms of mosquitoes.
- Budget – The more elaborate and gimmicky the trapping/attraction method, the more expensive these things can become. Thus, if you need something affordable, you’ll have to opt for something more traditional and basic and simply be more careful with it.
- Crowd – Do you just want to keep mosquitos out of your backyard in spring and summer for you and your family, or do you want to hold barbeques and other events? Because the more people you have, the more mosquitos you will have to combat as they seek out warm-blooded creatures like us.
- Power Consumption – Are you especially concerned about power consumption? Electric bug zappers tend to use more power than a propane or water trap, for example, due to the high-voltage field they produce to terminate the bloodsuckers. With that in mind, if you’re worried about your power bill, you may want to look into something that doesn’t use electricity.
Read Best Mosquito Traps Compared for 2022
My Personal Experience With Mosquito Traps
This one is a bit sad, and I want to share this because of how important it is to be careful with some of these devices. When I was a kid in LA, we had a bug zapper (a big, powerful one) in the backyard. While we didn’t have the mosquito problem there that we do here in Florida, after a rain in summer, they came out in droves nonetheless.
Well, one day, the neighbor’s cat had gotten out and had decided our backyard (how it got over the tall fence is anyone’s guess) was the best place to hide. Well, my dad and I both went outside to try to catch that cat, which, if you’ve ever chased an upset cat, you know isn’t something easily done.
It had rained the day before, and while most of the yard was dry, one low spot still had a small puddle. The cat, quite a big boy, took off across the center of the yard like a bat out of hell, and he knocked the zapper down, it hit the puddle just as he ran through the water, and he was severely electrocuted instantly.
I am happy to say he did indeed survive this, amazingly enough. This is only the case because he was a genuinely massive cat – an average-sized cat would probably not have survived this, and a small child may not have.
Please, please be careful with electric mosquito traps, don’t hang them near where puddles form, if they fall, they can become a lethal death trap. Thankfully, a lot of modern ones have kill devices in them that, if they short or feel themselves fall prone, they’ll immediately shut off. Still, just be careful, for your sake, the sake of your children and pets worldwide.
Another interesting thing worth sharing is that biological attempts to thwart mosquitos have been attempted here in Florida. The University of Florida, in the late 1960s, attempted to engineer a predator for mosquitoes genetically that was harmless to the ecosystem and people.
Sadly, these insects are happier eating debris, fly larvae, and everything but the mosquitos they were intended to fight. They also have no natural predators themselves. They’re called “love bugs” because they fly around while mating in the early summer here. They’re a menace, creating clouds that will drive you nuts and make a mess of your car. They’re harmless, but man, they are annoying. So, before you wish for science to use biological agents to combat any given pest, consider the ramifications that can come from that.
Tips on Using
- As we said earlier, setting up traps “near” the people, though it’s worth noting that “near” is a relative concept, depending on the trap. Some are disruptively loud, while others are potentially dangerous, so “near” would be the minimum safe distance a given trap specifies.
- Most traps are not safe indoors, but some are, mainly the vacuum and water trap styles, which cannot cause fires or another injury. However, let’s discuss the optimal strategy for setting these up.
- Have one as close as possible to where people are consistently stationary, killing the ones attracted to people. However, for safety, place tiki torches or other citronella candles/lamps nearer to people to discourage the mosquitos from opting for such easy, natural prey versus the trap.
- If you have a big area with people spread around, then you may need two traps and a lot of these repellant systems. Of course, most will argue that topical bug repellants are also a good measure. Still, those are awful, smelly things that nobody enjoys on their body, so if you strategically place these in the right way, you should be able to get away with not using any on-skin substances.
- Of note, mosquitos are exceptionally attracted to people who have just eaten potassium-rich foods, such as bananas. Don’t serve bananas at picnics.
What’s the problem?
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so anywhere you have still, standing water in the warm months of the year, count on mosquitoes coming from them. While these insects vary from person to person in how badly they will bite, their prime attraction is to heat and CO2, which we produce from existing and breathing.
Not all mosquitoеs bite – it’s only the females that do this for protein to produce eggs. Male mosquitoеs live only on nectar and pollen. It’s an insult to injury that they steal our blood and make us itch to produce more of themselves to annoy us further.
Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying and unpleasant, however. They also spread a lot of diseases, such as Zika, West Nile, malaria, and various other unpleasant viruses and bacteria. When they bite, a little bit of the blood they’ve already consumed mixes with the victim’s blood, meaning theoretically, they could spread venereal diseases too, though no documented records of this happening are on the books thus far. Doctors warn of the possibility of this, however.
So, mosquitos are a real problem. They’re annoying, they dangerous, and nobody would weep for their extinction. This has been attempted through genetic engineering, which I’ll talk about briefly. For now, though, all we can do is repel them with citronella (which works to a degree), spray/rub on bug repellants (which are almost as unpleasant as the bug bites), and of course, traps.
Treating the yard with insecticides or applying such solutions as DEET to the skin are still the most effective ways to keep mosquitoes away. However, if you do not have lots of mosquitoes around or if you need to cover a large area, trapping would be the best bet. Insects are stupid – they’re biological robots, quite literally. If you can trigger their attraction impulses, you can lure them to their doom quite effectively.
Today, we’re going to help fight the war against nature’s greatest entomological affront to humanity by looking at mosquito traps. We’ll see how they work, the different types and technologies used, and some of the best ones on the market.
How A Mosquito Trap Works: Explaining The Technologies Behind
There are several ways in which this technology can work, though the core concept is the same across them all. Something attracts mosquitoеs to the trap, and they’re killed in some fashion.
The most common one is the bug zapper which produces instantly-lethal electric fields that incinerate bugs that fly into them. Sometimes, an attractant chemical is used with them since mosquitoes aren’t drawn to light like other insects. Some use carbon dioxide, water, propane, heat, or ultraviolet light to kill insects with extreme prejudice.
Core Features of Mosquito Traps
While different mosquito traps work differently, there are a core set of components they mostly have in common.
- Lighting Arrays – There exist traps that don’t use light, but they’re not very common. Mosquitoes aren’t as drawn to light as some other insects (moths, for example), but there is still something of an attraction due to the infrared heat lights put out which mosquitoes are drawn to.
- Attractants – Mosquitos don’t just look for heat or light, they seek pheromones and CO2, which their prey (us) emits. Attractants are exceptionally potent synthetic substances that fool them, and once they’re close enough to the light, that draw to a heat source kicks in, luring them into the trap.
- Catch System – This is where they tend to vary from one trap to the next. “Zappers” fry them with high-powered electric elements. Other types of traps kill the pests by dehydration or drowning.
Are they Effective?
Mosquito traps will not catch every mosquito in the area, as they may spot you before the trap’s many lures, so one or two mosquito bites will probably happen. This is why additional measures such as citronella tiki torches or other repellants with Deet, Lemon Eucalyptus & Picaridin should be used along with them.
Still, they are compelling overall and will go a long way in keeping the mosquito population down in an area. However, these traps can be dangerous if they use flames or an exposed electrical field, meaning you’ll want to be very careful and ensure children and pets can’t get near them. More on that in a bit.
Types Of Traps And Their Catch Systems
As we’ve alluded to, there are various technology implementations to achieve the same basic effect of trapping and killing mosquitos. They can vary in how they kill the mosquitos, attract them, and a few other things.
Let’s look at a few of the different technologies put into place.
- CO2 traps produce carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoеs. It can also be used to kill them, as they breathe oxygen, though this would be a slow killing method. These often have a net, water trap, or electrical field to kill them.
H2O Traps. Mosquitos are drawn to water, where they lay their eggs. Still, water draws them, and it can also be used to drown.
- Propane traps usually draw mosquitoes in by releasing carbon dioxide and moisture. Baits like Octenol can also be added to attract more of them. As a rule, the captured insects die of dehydration within a short period.
UV traps attract insects by UV light and kill them by electrocuting. This is a safe trap because the UV can’t harm a human or a pet without long, deliberate exposure.
Traps Vs. Foggers
Another popular method is using a fogger to kill/repel mosquitos in an area. This, however, is more dangerous because you’ll be breathing the fog yourself. While some of these repellant fogs are listed as safe, it’s still not good for you, they will get in your food, drinks, and clothes, and they are not great for children or pets.
Fog is also subject to the whims of wind and weather, where traps, aside from wind carrying attractants at random, are stationary things that don’t care much about the weather, as long as you don’t let water get in the electrical works or douse the flame.
Where Can I Use Mosquito Traps?
So, where can these be used? Is it safe to use these indoors, outdoors, or what? The truth is, it depends.
Depending on the model you choose, you can either place it indoors or should use it outside the house only. This is primarily the issue of safety and in this regard, the best fit is UV-light and water mosquito traps. Look at the Dynatrap trap that covers as large as 1 acre but can be safely placed inside the house. The device comes with 2 UV-light bulbs and has a 7-foot cord. It does not require propane or chemical attractants that can pose a risk when used indoors.
Most traps are safe to use outside, in screened-in porches, etc. This is where you’re meant to use them primarily, as indoor mosquito problems should mostly be solved by proper window screens and other methods to keep them out.
Where Should You Put Mosquito Traps?
Placement of traps does matter, not just for the effectiveness of the trap but for the sake of safety as well. Mosquito traps should be placed near the primary place where people will gather, if used outdoors, such as near the porch or picnic area, because this is where mosquitos will be most drawn, to begin with, improving their effectiveness.
If you’re using multiple traps, placing one near where people will gather and one or two out along the perimeter will also go a long way in controlling mosquito presence. Place these strategically, with your repellants (citronella, etc.), not right next to the traps, where they’ll negate the effectiveness of one another.
When we have picnics here in Florida, we make a perimeter of tiki torches with citronella, and we hang the bug trap near the eating area and one near the cooking area. The bugs that get past the citronella barrier and about a third of the total population in the area will are usually handled by one or two traps, with maybe one or two errant bites happening in a night. Again, there’s no preventing at least one or two mosquitos from hitting their mark – they’re persistent.
However, one crucial thing to keep in mind is to keep it out of reach of children and pets. Most of these can be dangerous, delivering electric shocks, burns, or chemical exposure should someone get ahold of it the wrong way. It’s not likely to kill someone, but injuries could be severe, especially to pets, which are, sad to say, flammable.
Other Good Mosquito Traps Reviews
Below, you will find a review of mosquito traps. These traps use different attractants to keep the pests away, including UV light, chemical attractants, heat, moisture, and CO2. The items differ in area coverage, reaching as much as 1 acre. Some traps intended for outdoor use are waterproof, which is quite a vital product property.
Flowtron BK-15D
This is a traditional bug zapper, using UV, attractants, and electricity to lure and kill mosquitoes. If you’ve ever seen a typical hanging-lamp-styled bug zapper, you’ve seen this solid Flowtron model.
Features
- Attraction: Attractants, UV.
- Kill Method: Electricity.
- Form Factor: Hanging lantern.
- Range: ½ acre.
- Safe Range: 25 feet or more distance from the inhabited area.
- Can be used indoors: Not.
- Waterproof: Vaguely – it has a “roof” cover.
Performance
This sets the primary standard for a typical electric bug zapper, and it works fine for that. However, you must keep it away from people, and because it’s electrical, you can’t use it indoors. This is the kind that zapped the neighbor’s cat, so keep that in mind.
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Conclusion
If you want a basic bug zapper, this trap will work perfectly for you. Just be very careful.
FAQ
Are mosquito traps safe?
If they are correctly used, they are safe, yes. However, electric and open-flame traps can be dangerous indoors or if pets or children can get to them. It is best to assume that all traps are somewhat dangerous if mishandled and have a flat policy about pets and children staying away from them, no matter what.
- Do I need any extras (fuel, insecticide, etc.) when buying a mosquito trap?
This depends on the trap. Most traps are best served by adding attractant, which you hang near the trap. Vacuum traps and electric traps don’t need fuel or pesticides. Some traps, which use CO2, H2O, or other additional substances, will need replacement canisters of carbon dioxide and water added to them.
When are mosquitoes active, and when is the best time to strike?
Well, “striking” is something of a futile effort. Mosquitoes migrate and wander. They lay their eggs, but then they move on, they don’t nest. So, you can’t wipe them out from an outdoor area, they come from all over the place. However, mosquitos do have a time when they’re most active, which is when traps are needed most. They’re most active during and shortly after dusk and leading up to/during dawn. However, all throughout the nighttime, they’re considerably more active than daytime. It’s worth noting, though, that they’re never completely inactive during the appropriate season, you may be bitten by one or two even at high noon.
- How to clean mosquito traps?
This also depends on the trap, most of them just need to be cleaned off or compartments emptied/nets replaced. They’re all designed to be pretty easy to clean and easy to get apart.
Dynatrap 1-Acre Review
Dynatrap DT2000XL shows a safer method for attracting and trapping mosquitoes, with a trap chamber and two UV bulbs. It doesn’t kill them, it merely traps them, but this thing is safe and pesticide/odor free.
Features
- Attraction: Attractants, UV.
- Kill Method: Trap chamber.
- Form Factor: Hanging lantern/tabletop.
- Range: 1 acre.
- Safe Range: Any.
- Can be used indoors: Yes.
- Waterproof: Yes, though don’t submerge it.
Performance
This one is a lot safer, not using flames or electrical fields to kill anything, making it safe around pets and children. The problem is, it has to lure mosquitoes into a trap when they get too close. A powerful whisper-quiet vacuum fan sucks insects into the retaining cage where they dehydrate and die.
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Conclusion
This one has to work harder to trap the mosquitos, but with a wide range, and the safety it can provide, it may be worth the trade-off.
Safe Mosquito Trap with Stand, 1/2 Acre
Similar to the other Dynatrap, this one provides a nice stand, making it easy to set up, and making it great for porches, patios, or other open-air places around the house.
Features
- Attraction: Attractants, UV.
- Kill Method: Trap chamber.
- Form Factor: Lampstand.
- Range: 1/2 acre.
- Safe Range: Any.
- Can be used indoors: Yes.
- Waterproof: Yes, though don’t submerge it.
Performance
This has less range than the other Dynatrap, but for around the house, this is a great solution, though since it doesn’t instantly kill the bugs, it’s still less effective/efficient than some other trap styles.
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Conclusion
While it’s less effective than an instant-kill trap, it’s still pretty compelling, and I would feel better about this around someone’s kids or around my cats, which will knock anything over if given enough time.
Blue Rhino SV5100 Review
This Blue Rhino trap is similar to the previous model, using heat, moisture, and CO2 to attract mosquitos and a vacuum to suck them up. This one’s a little more affordable and lightweight but has less power.
Features
- Attraction: Attractants, heat, moisture, CO2.
- Kill Method: Trap chamber and vacuum.
- Form Factor: It’s on wheels.
- Range: 1+ acre.
- Safe Range: Any.
- Can be used indoors: No.
- Waterproof: No.
Performance
If you like the previous model but think it’s a hundred or so bucks too expensive, this is a good alternative solution with similar results. It’s not quite as powerful, and it’s a lot louder, but again, making these things nice for ambiance drives their prices way up. A noisy, unattractive device is better than swarms of blood-sucking mosquitos, anyhow.
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Conclusion
This one is ideal for large properties or big gatherings like the Magnet. It’s a little easier to maintain but not quite as effective.
Conclusion
Mosquitos are profusely dangerous things that can cause various health problems and unpleasantness. Scratching the bites can cause skin ailments, scarring, and even infections. That said, having a solid method to repel and trap them, so they cannot bite you or your kids while outside is an essential thing to do.
We’ve talked about how dangerous some of these can be if they’re not used properly, but don’t let this discourage you from pursuing these effective measures. Anything is dangerous if not used wisely and safely.
I am intrigued by that waterproof Fenvella solution, which promises to make electric bug zapper traps much safer moving forward. I cannot figure out how that even works, but it’s pretty amazing. One of these solutions will work for you, I am positive, and you can once more enjoy the outdoors in peace.
