Mosquito magnet/traps - are they effective?
- Thread starter benz
- Start date
We have a mosquito magnet and it does work, you will not get rid of every mosquito, but it knocks the population down to a very tolerable level. That being said they are a bit "enthusiastic" in their claims and there is a bit of regular maintenance that needs to be done.
Our unit claims it will help protect up to 1 acre of land - maybe it would if there was not a house in the way... We have 3/4 of an acre and the magnet will keep the majority of the back yard very tolerable but it does nothing for the front yard.
You need to run the unit continuously, 24 hrs a day 7 days a week for it to be effective.
We go through a propane tank every 3-4 weeks and an Octenal cartridge with every tank change. Depending on how bad the bugs are we can sometimes go a week with out emptying the catch net, other times you do it almost daily.
It does take some experimenting to find the correct location for the magnet but once you find a good spot there is no need to move it. I would also say that if you are trying to cover a large area I think you would be better served to buy 2 smaller units rather than one large one.
I have not put ours out this year but will need to soon. It works well enough for me that when it dies I will buy another. My dad had a similar experience with his magnet so I am fairly comfortable saying they do work.
Our unit claims it will help protect up to 1 acre of land - maybe it would if there was not a house in the way... We have 3/4 of an acre and the magnet will keep the majority of the back yard very tolerable but it does nothing for the front yard.
You need to run the unit continuously, 24 hrs a day 7 days a week for it to be effective.
We go through a propane tank every 3-4 weeks and an Octenal cartridge with every tank change. Depending on how bad the bugs are we can sometimes go a week with out emptying the catch net, other times you do it almost daily.
It does take some experimenting to find the correct location for the magnet but once you find a good spot there is no need to move it. I would also say that if you are trying to cover a large area I think you would be better served to buy 2 smaller units rather than one large one.
I have not put ours out this year but will need to soon. It works well enough for me that when it dies I will buy another. My dad had a similar experience with his magnet so I am fairly comfortable saying they do work.
I always think that you are simply attracting more mosquito's to your area. Just like Bug Lights. The ones that wouldn't have been there are attracted to it, and now are in the area. I understand it traps and kills them. Just seems counter-intuative. But, sounds like scott_b has had a good experience with them. I've not had one, but my wife tried the whole yeast/sugar mix in a 2 liter bottle type trap, and that didn't work at all. Supposed to give off the CO and catch them kind of like the hornet trap with sugar, but they never went in there.
I use a lawn spray from Cutter called BackYard Guard. It works really well. Kills and repels them, lasts 4 to 8 weeks. You just spray it out of the hose. There is an Off version as well. This year for us in MN, we've had such a wet spring, it's been difficult to manage them, but just thought I'd give you another choice. Good luck!!!!!
I use a lawn spray from Cutter called BackYard Guard. It works really well. Kills and repels them, lasts 4 to 8 weeks. You just spray it out of the hose. There is an Off version as well. This year for us in MN, we've had such a wet spring, it's been difficult to manage them, but just thought I'd give you another choice. Good luck!!!!!
rocketman356
New member
Mosquito does not need strap only one on trail
I wonder if this opinion is still applicable:
http://www.johndee.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?19323-mosquito-magnet
http://www.johndee.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?19323-mosquito-magnet
Grant Hoar
New member
Since these tend to attract mosquitos to the area, be a nice guy to your neighbor and offer to put in in his yard, draw them out of your yard
It is. I still use mine and as I said in the post linked to above as well as what scottb said, they are not a plug in and forget about it device. Nor do they take care of 100% of the mosquitos.
However, if you do run and maintain them as you are told to in the instructions, they do make a big difference and create a tolerable situation. Plus I like the fact that no harmful chemicals are used so the dogs, Grace, Nora and I will not be exposed to the chemicals.
The idea of it attracting them when you don't want to makes sense on the surface, but the truth is, the device does not draw them in, only to set them free to bite you. Any mosquito attracted by the device is sucked into it and will die and will be one less mosquito to bite you and/or to breed more to deal with later. Mosquitos can travel 100's of yards to find a blood meal, so just spraying your yard will not always work as the bugs can come from your neighbors yard that has not been sprayed.
We have been so dry (up until a few days ago) that I did not have to get it running yet this season, but plan to later today or tomorrow.
I guess the bottom line is, I would recommend them, with the caveat that the person using it uses it properly and understands you are not going to stop 100% of them.
-John
garyl62
Active member
Screened in porch! Works like a charm. Might be a little tight for the kids to play in though
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