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From: glenda@homxb.UUCP (G.CHILDRESS)
Newsgroups: sci.bio,sci.misc,misc.consumers.house,rec.gardens
Subject: Re: Bug zappers
Keywords: A royal scam?
Message-ID: <1737@homxb.UUCP>
Date: 3 Jun 88 12:06:48 GMT
References: <3637@brspyr1.BRS.Com>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel
Lines: 42

In article <3637@brspyr1.BRS.Com>, miket@brspyr1.BRS.Com (Mike Trout) writes:

> I'm interested in learning about the relative value, or lack of value, of 
> electronic insect killers, commonly referred to as "bug zappers" or "bug 
> lights."  The manufacturers have done a pretty good job of convincing us 
> all that the ultraviolet light of these ...

My local paper had an article on these devices yesterday.  All of what I'm 
writing is from that article.  (A few entomologists were consulted.)
Since these zappers were introduced, US consumers have spent over 300 million 
dollars on them.  At ~ 35$ each, that's a lot of zappers.

> A.  The zappers actually make the situation worse.  Although many insects are
> attracted by the light, only a small percentage get close enough to be 
> terminated....

They make the situation worse by attracting more insects to the area than 
would normally come on their own.  But (per the article) they kill a large
number of insects.  Suggestions of moving the light roughly 50 feet from your
seating area and only having the light on when you are outside should lessen
the problem.

> B.  Insects that we normally think of as outdoor "pests" (that is, those that
> bite) are not attracted by ultraviolet light.  The only insects that are fried
> are those that are harmless anyway--moths, mayflies, June bugs, and the like.

True and False.  Some nasty flies get attracted.  mosquitos do not.  There
are some brands that come with "scent packs" to attract other bugs that 
wouldn't come just to the light.

> B (1). Many of the insects obliterated may actually be beneficial insects in
> some ways, and could even be species that prey on those very insects we are
> trying to eliminate...

True.

> C.  Although the constant sound of zapping may be very gratifying to the owner,
> the number of insects terminated represents about 0.0001% of those in the
> immediate area.  This seems to be borne out by simple statistics.

The article indicated that "lots" of insects are zapped.  But as in the first
statement, the light continues to pull more in, thus the appearance of it not
working.