Are “bug zappers” effective in controlling mosquitoes or preventing mosquito bites?
No. “Bug zappers” rely on just ultraviolet light for attraction and are ineffective in reducing mosquito biting rates and kill many harmless or beneficial insects, as well. In one study, just 0.13% of the insects killed by one of these devices were biting flies, including female mosquitoes. Another study estimated that up to 350 billion beneficial insects are killed annually in the United States by these devices. No controlled scientific study has shown that these devices reduce mosquito biting rates outdoors.
