Killing This Many Beneficial Insects

Though the above nodes capture the essence of the bug zapper, I was shocked to notice that neither give technical details on the workings of those technological marvels (or, as we could study, nugatory and even detrimental items of technology). Bug zappers had been created in 1934 by William F. Folmer and Harrison L. Chapin. Since then, little has modified in the basic design of the zapper. The bug zapper is normally formed like a lantern, with an electrically grounded housing and, as speedo notes, is surrounded by a wire mesh that prevents youngsters or squirrels from being subjected to electrocution. A fluorescent light, often of the blue ultraviolet variety, attracts insects. Surrounding the sunshine are two layers of wire mesh, separated by a hole the width of your average insect. These wire meshes are electrified by a transformer that ups the 120-volt current that powers the zapper to 2000 volts or more.



The bug, drawn to the light, attempts to maneuver via the wire meshes, and, with the bug zapper's trademark "BZZZZZAPP!," the insect is VAPORIZED. Bug zappers can kill up to 10,000 insects per evening. Bug zappers have a high inherent entertainment value- one can easily waste a half an hour laughing at the hapless, deluded insects as they are dispatched by the beautiful blue light. The metaphorical prospects of this phenomenon are legion. As Michalak will in all probability not be shocked to learn, bug zappers have many drawbacks. They only kill insects which might be attracted to the bug zapper's light, which signifies that mosquitoes, the perennial summer mosquito protection pest, summer mosquito protection are immune to the bug zapper. In 1996, a University of Delaware research discovered that solely 0.22 p.c of insects killed by zappers in several areas were mosquitoes or biting gnats. Forty eight percent were, actually, harmless and even useful aquatic insects from nearby water sources. Killing this many helpful insects, the researchers stated, could disrupt the local ecosystem. Though some bug zappers emit mosquito attracting pheremones equivalent to Octenol, simpler means of insect control embody the usage of citronella oil, a natural mosquito repellent that may be burned in candles or tiki torches, or constructing bat houses to draw the mosquito munching mammals.



Dynatrap makes insect traps that work on the same principle as others. They appeal to flying bugs with warmth and carbon dioxide, then catch them and stop them from escaping. For warmth, they use a fluorescent ultra-violet bulb, which additionally emits bug-attracting light. The primary distinction is that they don’t use propane to create carbon dioxide (CO2). Instead, they use a special process. More on that beneath. Since they don’t use propane, that means no want to purchase and change cylinders, and better of all, no maintenance problems with clogged lines or failure of the propane to mild-points that hassle many other traps.