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Zappers Zap the Good Bugs

June 9, 2005
With the emergence of West Nile Virus, the use of back yard "bug zappers" to help reduce the mosquito population is on the rise.

Every hardware and home improvement store has a wide selection of the devices. But biologists and environmentalists have questioned the effectiveness of these devices for killing mosquitoes and other biting insects since the zappers first began making that annoying sound.

Repeated studies strongly suggest and in some case demonstrate that these devices have no benefit for outdoor mosquito control.

They do kill bugs -- the wrong kinds of bugs.

When they are busily zapping? Studies have shown that the zappers are actually killing mostly non-biting aquatic insects or predators and parasites, while killing only a small fraction of mosquitoes and biting flies.

It turns out that the while the zappers don't kill mosquitoes they are incredibly effective in locally reducing biodiversity, including insects that would likely kill more mosquitoes than the zappers.

Looks like it's better to keep that zapper turned off.

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