| Bug zappers are exceptional killers of bugs — just not the ones that bite you. Among the thousands of insects these devices electrocute each night, almost all are harmless. Manufacturers make bold claims that the devices will rid yards of mosquitoes and other pests. The problem? None of these are true, scientists say. In fact, bug zappers make it more likely you'll be bitten by mosquitoes while sitting in your backyard. "When it comes to mosquitoes, bug zappers don't work," says James Fordyce, an entomologist at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. "I don't know any insect ecologist that doesn't know that." I talked to experts about why bug zappers are a really bad idea to get rid of mosquitoes — and what works instead. Do bug zappers work? Phillip Kaufman. the head of the entomology department at Texas A&M University, says he has not seen "any published data showing any efficacy" for bug zappers. A 1996 study by the University of Delaware used a bug zapper to trap 13,789 insects over a summer. Only 31 — 0.22 percent — were biting insects such as mosquitoes and gnats. What did the zapper kill? Beneficial bugs, mostly. Roughly half the victims — 6,670 insects — were harmless aquatic species from nearby rivers and streams, fish food in the aquatic food chain. Many of the others were parasitic wasps and beetles that naturally prey on mosquitoes. Why bug zappers don't work Bug zappers purport to work by attracting mosquitoes, typically using a lightbulb that emits ultraviolet light, or chemical bait. An electrified metal mesh incinerates them on contact, generating a sizzling "pop." Mosquitoes are not fooled by zappers because, along with other bloodsucking insects, they have evolved to home in on animals' exhaled carbon dioxide, not ultraviolet light, scientists say. Even if mosquitoes are drawn in by a bug zapper, they will immediately redirect their attention to their favorite foods: warmblooded mammals, especially humans. What do manufacturers say? I asked three leading manufacturers of bug zappers — Black and Decker, Aspectek and Flowtron — for studies supporting their marketing claims, which according to the Federal Trade Commission must be supported by "competent and reliable evidence." None responded after multiple inquiries. Black and Decker referred all questions to a contract manufacturer, which also did not respond. The FTC, while it would not comment on the companies' statements, noted that it had investigated misleading statements and safety issues in the past and recommended the public submit any complaints through its website. To find out what does work, read my full column here. | 
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