Bug Zappers

The bug zapper that we are acquainted with had its origins in 1934, with a patent by William F. Folmer and Harrison L. Chapin. This early invention is over 70 years old and is still guiding the present day "electronic insect-control system" or the "electrical-discharge insect-control system" that was so popular the past decade or so. Using light to attract bugs, it then electrocutes the little insect and causes it to die instantaneously. Yards in cities and town, and even patios in the country, all have bug zappers to reduce the insect population but the little moths and butterflies are attracted enough to die from it, while the mosquito insect is not even phased by it.

The use of bug zappers are usually complemented by other insect controls, such as the citronella candles which have a mosquito repellent factor. Also, the skin insect repellants which contain the product DEET are a good choice. If the skin repellent is not used, simply avoid going outside before sunrise and after sunset to avoid contact with the insects. To avoid the damage to the ecosystem, a new type of bug zapper has two non-toxic chemicals involved in its process—Octenol and carbon dioxide.

Most people feel that the bug zapper attracts and kills all bugs, but a 1996 study at the University of Delaware has found that most of the 14,000 insects killed from six bug zappers, located at various sites throughout suburban Newark, Delaware, had only 31 bugs that were mosquitoes and biting gnats. Unfortunately, the remaining was harmless insects whose deaths were affecting the nearby ecosystems. The study revealed that most mosquito species were not attracted to the ultraviolet light, which is what is inside the bug zapper, while other species of insects were not attracted to the light during the day. The results of the study found that the bug zappers are "worthless for reducing biting flies, exact a heavy toll on non-target insects and are counter-productive to consumers and the ecosystem."

With today's concern over ecosystems and global warming, plus concern and care over the earth—the bug zapper has been forced to change and to become "earth user-friendly." World War II and insecticides' development have progressed on with a major development of insecticides, that led to this little machine that so many believe works on the flying insect. Certainly, there is a little pile of dead insects, inside and on the ground under it the following morning, but how many of them were the actual insects we go after as little annoying buzzing enemies? Absolutely none.