Trap FAQ’s
Why isn’t the trap killing mosquitoes – help?
A: The location of your trap is absolutely critical. Most mosquito species avoid direct sunlight and wind so make sure your trap is placed somewhere shaded and sheltered; preferably amongst bushes or shrubs. Mosquitoes love water too, so check out for any damp wetland areas on your property. You may need to experiment with different locations to determine the most successful placement for your trap. But don’t put the mosquito trap too close to where you spend most of your time – 20-30 feet away is the recommended distance.
There seem to be more mosquitoes outside the trap than inside. What can I do?
A: The use of Octenol attractant lures in mosquito traps can increase capture rates of most mosquito species. However, there are some species that are not overly attracted by Octenol. You may need to experiment a bit to determine if Octenol is MORE or LESS effective with the mosquito species in your area. Try operating the trap with a lure for the first two weeks, and then without a lure for the next two weeks.
I’ve had the trap running a week now but I’m still seeing heaps of mosquitoes buzzing around. What’s up?
A: While a mosquito trap will begin to catch immediately there’s any mosquitoes around, it may take anywhere between 6-8 weeks of continuous use. It typically takes that amount of time to kill enough female mosquitoes to make a population collapse. Each female mosquito can lay up to 300 eggs at a time and repeat this cycle up to 10 times in her lifetime – that’s 3000 potential offspring. So one word – persevere!
There are a number of different mosquito machines out there, what works best, zappers or traps?
A: TRAPS! No seriously, while zappers do kill a large number of insects, studies have shown that most of them are moths and beetles, and less than 7 percent are mosquitoes. In fact, yards with zappers typically have no fewer mosquitoes than yards without zappers! When it comes to traps vs zappers, traps are the best mosquito killers.
I’ve got a Mega-Catch™ trap, how do I stop it catching moths?
A: The Mega-Catch™ Ultra and Premier Models have a low intensity U.V. Bulb which emits light at a frequency that research has shown attracts certain mosquito species. Unfortunately it can also attract small quantities of non-target species like moths. If this is the problem, the U.V. Bulb can easily be disconnected. If it’s an Ultra trap, the U.V. Bulb can simply be switched off by touching the “U.V. Tube” button on the Programmable Timer.
Why isn’t the trap killing all the mosquitoes out there – is it too small?
A: First up – one or two traps should be enough; however depending on the size of your property and the number and location of mosquito breeding sites you may need more.
Second – size does count! Trap size that is. So check out the manufacturers recommended coverage area on the box. The bigger, more expensive machines usually have a greater coverage area; up to 150’ (1 ½ acres) in some brands. Smaller traps can start off at 90’ (½ acre coverage) – great for small yards or patios but no good for a big yard.
What are the most economical mosquito traps?
A: Electric – traps that operate on a 12 volt system usually consume less power than a 40 watt light bulb so operating costs are low. Propane traps are just more expensive to operate full-stop. You can easily go through a tank of propane every 3 weeks, which is expensive, and will be even more so as prices continue to rise.
