How To Make Mosquito Killer Trap Using a Bug Zapper & Bucket (DIY Homemade Gravid Autocidal Ovitrap)
DIY simple and effective mosquito trap and kill using a bug zapper and stagnant water to attract mosquitos looking to lay eggs. In order to reproduce, mosquitos must find stagnant water to lay their eggs. A bucket filled with stagnant water is a very attractive egg-laying repository, but it's a trap! When the mosquitos attempt to access the water, they get zapped. The blood-sucking mosquito is killed and has no chance to lay its eggs, so the reproduction cycle is stopped.
▼ WHERE TO BUY PARTS -
▶ Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer, 1 Acre Coverage or this smaller, less expensive version will also work Flowtron BK-15D Electronic Insect Killer, 1/2 Acre Coverage
▶ Bucket and bucket lid - Hardware store
▶ Screen Mesh - Hardware store
UPDATE - The first Flowtron bug zapper only lasted for 1-2 years before the zapper transformer stopped working. I don't know if this was a fluke, but since we're only interested in using the zapper grid, there are these electronic circuits that are sold to attach to a bug zapper grid.
3000V bug zapper circuit (110V AC input) (probably overkill for a mosquito zapper)
This works best if you remove all other sources of stagnant water for the mosquitos to breed, and only provide ones like this that are traps. Then the mosquitos will have no choice but to attempt to lay their eggs in the traps, and will get zapped.
Mosquito traps that can kill the pregnant mosquito while it is searching for water to lay its eggs are called lethal autocidal gravid ovitraps, and are known to be effective at controlling mosquito populations. Here are some commercialized examples. https://colinpurrington.com/2019/03/mosquito-traps-that-work/
I've tried a few of these, and did not like them. They rely on things that need maintenance and replacement, like glue strips to catch the mosquito or poison to kill it. The bug zapper requires electricity, but no maintenance or cost of replacement.
I will have to determine efficacy by seeing if there are fewer mosquitos in the area. The mosquitos get completely disintegrated, so it will be difficult to tell how many mosquitos get zapped. Eliminating all other stagnant water sources will be key, such that they will only come breed in the trap. I have a small frog pond (no fish) that I keep stocked with mosquito dunks to kill any larvae that hatch. It has been extremely effective at reducing mosquito population, but since it doesn't kill the egg layer, they will go find other spots to lay eggs. Unfortunately, I can't control what my neighbors have around collecting water. So, this trap that kills the egg layer should be even more effective.
IMPROVEMENTS
A solar-powered mosquito zapper would reduce the dependence on being within extension cord range of an AC power outlet. This is a viable solar zapper option and it has a large separate solar panel that can be placed in an area with more sun.
The above trap only kills mosquitos looking to lay eggs, which means that they must bite first. How do we attract those looking for a blood meal and kill them before they even bite us?
Smelly socks are supposedly a good attractant, some sources claim they are 4X more attractive than people themselves. Use the above bug zapper and bucket, but instead put a smelly sock in the bucket and a small fan to blow the smell up through the hole to attract mosquitoes. Add a CO2 generator to increase the attraction.
CO2 generators that use citric acid and baking soda to release small amounts of CO2 over long periods of time could be effective in attracting mosquitos, especially when used in combination with smelly socks or lure. These CO2 generators are designed to add CO2 to aquariums to improve plant health.
BIOGENTS BG-Sweetscent Mosquito Attractant - Appears to be a well-reviewed effective attractant, especially when combined with CO2. Use the above bug zapper and bucket, but instead put the BIOGENTS BG-Sweetscent Mosquito Attractant in the bucket and a small fan to blow the smell up through the hole to attract mosquitoes.
Do High Voltage Electric Fields Deter Mosquitos?
Most bug zappers have grid voltages between 2000 and 4000 volts. For Flowtron zappers, I don't see specs from the manufacturer, but see several numbers between 2000 and 2500 volts. I've also read specs that say that wall mounted bug zappers are around 2000V and the handheld raquette type zappers are around 1000V.
According to the following study, there is no significant repellency at voltages between 0V to 2800V.
So, it may be safe to assume that the mosquitoes are not repelled by the grid voltages of the bug zapper.
Images below are from this research paper.
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How To Make Mosquito Killer Trap Using a Bug Zapper and Bucket (Gravid Autocidal Ovitrap)
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