Most electric mosquito deterrents don't work as well as advertised. Bug zappers kill very few mosquitoes, and ultrasonic devices have no proven effect on them at all.
The idea of flipping a switch and getting rid of mosquitoes is immensely appealing. Unfortunately, products that promise this, such as bug zappers and ultrasonic devices, seldom deliver on it.
Bug zappers are the most common example. They use ultraviolet light to attract flying insects and electrocute them on contact. The problem is that mosquitoes aren't strongly attracted to UV light. Studies have consistently shown that the insects killed by bug zappers are overwhelmingly moths, beetles, and other non-biting species. Mosquitoes make up a very small fraction of the total catch, often less than 5%.
Ultrasonic repellers have a spottier track record still. These devices claim to emit high-frequency sound waves that drive mosquitoes away. Multiple independent studies have tested this claim and found no measurable repellent effect. The Federal Trade Commission has even pursued some manufacturers for false advertising.
Mosquito traps that use CO2 and attractant lures do perform better than zappers or ultrasonic devices. Mosquitoes are attracted to CO2 because it helps them find hosts, so these traps do work to some degree, but need to be part of a broader strategy. A trap on your patio won’t address the deeper issue—mosquitoes hiding in your yard or breeding in your gutters.
With bug zappers, ultrasonic devices, and mosquito traps, there is one common problem. They deal with mosquitoes as individuals, not as a population. If you knock down 100 mosquitoes but there are 1,000 mosquitoes in your yard, you still have a mosquito problem, even if you have taken a few of them out. Population-level solutions are the best way to deal with them in the long run.
If you're tired of dealing with mosquitoes in your Southern Westchester yard, Mosquito Squad of Southern Westchester can help. Mosquito Squad uses barrier treatments that target the vegetation and breeding areas where mosquitoes live, reducing the population by up to 90% for 21 days at a time.
