The best mosquito traps for the home and yard
Two different types of traps define your approach to mosquito control.
With the current increased risk of dengue virus infection in the United States, it is increasingly important to protect against potentially harmful mosquito bites.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, over 10 million cases of dengue have been reported so far this year in North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean, representing a 233% increase compared to the same time last year.
These higher-than-usual numbers, as the CDC described them, are a result of increased flooding, record-breaking heat and ever-increasing international travel, ABC News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Darien Sutton said on "Good Morning America" Thursday.
Common symptoms of dengue include fever, body aches and pains, headaches, nausea and vomiting, and rashes.
There is no specific medicine to treat dengue, according to the WHO, which states that "the focus is on treating pain symptoms," often with acetaminophen, as "non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin ... can increase the risk of bleeding."
"Most cases of dengue fever can be treated at home with pain medicine," the global health agency states.
According to the CDC, "dengue viruses are mainly spread to people by the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito."
"These are the same types of mosquitoes that spread Zika and chikungunya viruses," the agency states.
While mosquito bites can be benign for many people, nearly everyone can share in the irritation of being bitten by the blood-thirsty insect.
Thankfully, they can be warded off in a variety of ways including repellant sprays, proper food storage, or specially designed mosquito catchers.
ABC News spoke with one mosquito expert about what to look for when shopping for your next mosquito catcher.
Meet the expert
Dr. Sydney Crawley is a principal vector scientist for Terminix, a pest control company. She has a doctorate in urban entomology and spent four years, from 2016-2020, working for a garden care company where she revamped their mosquito products.
"All of the work that I do is centered on improving mosquito and tick management," said Crawley, who now works at the Rentokil Terminix Innovation Center.
2 types of mosquito traps
Crawley noted there are two different ways to go about mitigating mosquitoes' encroachment on your home, and the correct use of each mosquito trap depends on which type of mosquito you are looking to eliminate.
Gravid traps
One kind of trap, a gravid trap, targets female mosquitoes looking to lay eggs. Crawley said these traps are best for consumers looking to cut down on mosquitoes over an extended period of time.
"If you're looking to reduce the mosquito population ... longer term, I think the gravid traps are a great way to go because over time you're going to reduce the amount of larvae they're actually hatching," said Crawley.
Host-seeking traps
The other kind of trap, host-seeking traps, targets mosquitoes looking for a blood meal.
"Those are great for a one time event like you're having a party, you know, and you really want to prevent people from being bitten in real time," said Crawley.
What to look for in your mosquito traps
Crawley said some helpful attributes to look for when searching for a trap that works for you are portability, noise production and type of power source, among other things.
Consumers can also look at the trap's coverage area -- 1/2 to 1 acre is suggested, and anything more than that is likely unrealistic, according to Crawley.
It can also be helpful to know exactly what tools the trap is using to attract mosquitoes -- common options include UV light, heat, glue traps and more.
What to avoid in your next mosquito trap
'''Eliminates mosquitoes' is a bold and unsupported claim," Crawley said, noting that electronic and ultrasonic traps don't have concrete evidence to support their efficacy.
"Chemical free" is another label Crawley said to be wary of.
"Water is a chemical. These sort of claims are often meant to persuade the consumer that a product is somehow 'safer' than a competitor," she said.
Top-rated mosquito traps
DynaTrap DT1050-AZSR Mosquito, Beetle & Flying Insect Trap
This trap offers the recommended 1/2 acre of protection with three forms of defense: UV light, TiO2 coating and a quiet fan.
- $93.47
- $143.99
- Amazon
GOOTOP Bug Zapper Outdoor Electric
For portability's sake, this trap is lightweight and a simple start.
- $28.49
- $59.99
- Amazon
DynaTrap DT2000XLPSR Large Mosquito & Flying Insect Trap
The instructions on this DynaTrap model follow Crawley's instructions to place above grass in order to minimize interference.
- $127.49
- $220.99
- Amazon
Traps focused on targeting larvae
Grandpa Gus's Mosquito Trap Outdoor
This outdoor trap targets larvae in order to cut down on the reproduction of mosquitoes.
- $39.99
- Amazon
INZECTO Mosquito Control Trap
The device uses a "leaf infusion mixture dissolved in stagnant water" to kill insects and larvae at the source.
- $32.49
- $39.99
- Amazon
BIOGENTS BG-GAT2 Yard Control
This is a manual product requiring no battery or electric power. The trap "helps to reduce their presence nuisance over time," an approach Crawley said is typical of gravid traps.
- $85.00
- Amazon
Traps focused on targeting blood-hungry mosquitos
Katchy Indoor Insect Trap - Catcher & Killer for Mosquitos
Boasting over 68,000 reviews, this product uses a three-pronged approach to catching mosquitoes: a UV light, a fan and a glue board.
- $46.99
- Amazon
Mosalogic Flying Insect Trap Plug-in Mosquito Killer
This trap doubles as a mosquito catcher and night light, as the UV light does the work to trap blood-hungry mosquitoes.
- $19.99
- Amazon
Shieldeck Flying Insect Trap
This product uses UV light and carbon dioxide to draw in hungry mosquitoes.
- $29.99
- $39.99
- Amazon
Mosquito repellent candles, coils and string lights
Murphy's Naturals Mini Mosquito Repellent Candle 9-Pack
These scented candles use rosemary, peppermint, and lemongrass with repellant oils to detract potential biting mosquitos.
- $42.99
- Amazon
TIKI Brand Bitefighter Outdoor LED Weatherproof Proven Mosquito Repellent String Lights
The lights come along with pods that are filled with repellent fluid to take care of mosquitos while enjoying a variety of outdoor events.
- $154.99
- Amazon
W4W Mosquito Repellent Coils
A burning repellent coil can stave off mosquito bites over several hours during outdoor events.
- $11.95
- $14.95
- Amazon
More traps to catch mosquitos
Fly Trap Indoor(1 Device + 5 Glue Cards)
This small, non-obstructive option comes with five replaceable cards.
- $10.34
- $24.99
- Amazon
Dynatrap DT3007 Indoor Plug-in Fly Trap for Flies, Fruit Flies, Moths, Gnats, and Other Flying Insects
The product description notes full-day protection while using no insecticides.
- $14.39
- Amazon
Minimoon Bug Zapper Outdoor
The product description notes the lights can function as outdoor lighting in the night, as well as mosquito preventers.
- $29.99
- $39.99
