Mosquito Traps Reviews

The reviews below are assigned ratings by ConsumerSearch. These ratings are based on credibility in testing, evaluating and identifying the best Mosquito Traps. See our ratings criteria

For recommendations of best Mosquito Traps, see our Fast Answers page, which summarizes what these reviews say. A longer summary and analysis appears in our Full Story report for Mosquito Traps. Our Where to Buy page contains information on retailers and Mosquito Traps prices.

Where to Buy

Fast Answers

Full Story

All Reviews

Mosquito Traps Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Mosquito Traps Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Consumer Reports >> Details/Subscribe	Should you trap or zap? Editors of Consumer Reports May 2003		Consumer Reports tests three mosquito traps in a 25-by-30-foot sealed room against a mosquito species that has helped spread West Nile Virus and another aggressive mosquito species common to the south. Each trap ran for 20 hours, half that time in the dark. Although the test is a bit dated, two of the three models are still available. Tests are conducted in the lab, rather than in the outdoors. The article clearly explains how each device operates and notes some drawbacks -- they are expensive, require an electrical outlet, and don't completely eradicate mosquitoes. They are better zappers, however, which caught hardly any mosquitoes.

Mosquito Traps Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Mosquito Traps Ratings Comments on Reviews

2. Utah Mosquito Abatement Association	The Mosquito Magnet: A New Tool in Controlling Tree Hole Mosquitoes Brian Hougaard and Sammie Lee Dickson 1999		The Salt Lake City Mosquito Abatement District uses the Mosquito Magnet in three neighborhood locations over the course of one summer. In one location, researchers compare the Mosquito Magnet to an earlier version of the Mosquito Magnet Pro in two separate tests. In both tests, the Mosquito Magnet catches significantly more Ae. sierrensis mosquitoes than the Pro, but the Pro catches more Cx. pipiens mosquitoes. Researchers conclude that the Mosquito Magnet is an effective tool in controlling tree hole mosquitoes, though it does not get rid of all the mosquitoes. Researchers like that it is easy to use, requires no maintenance for up to 20 days. It is also environmentally friendly. The study only rates two mosquito traps, both manufactured by American Biophysics Corporation.
3. Technical Bulletin of the Florida Mosquito Control Association	Mosquito Magnets As Barrier Treatments Against Salt Marsh Mosquitoes Around Residential Houses in Marsh Area Rui-De Xue, Alex Santoro, Daniel Kline, and Alan Grant Feb. 2005		Researchers evaluate Mosquito Magnet mosquito traps in a residential neighborhood in a Florida marsh area. The neighborhood is divided into test and control sites. The Mosquito Magnets caught more than 91,000 mosquitoes in 18 species and more than 2 million sand flies, and significantly reduced landing counts in the treated subdivision over one month of trials. The test does not test or rate any other mosquito traps. The article says that the experiment would continue for several more weeks, but we could not locate an update.
4. Journal of the American Mosquito Control Association	The Effectiveness of the Mosquito Magnet Trap for Reducing Biting Midge (Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) Populations in Coastal Residential Backyards J.E. Cilek and C.F. Hallmon June 2005		Researchers at Florida A&M University evaluate how effective single Mosquito Magnet traps are in consistently reducing the biting midge population in a coastal Florida residential neighborhood. Mosquito magnet traps are set up in five backyards, compared to three control backyards, with weekly samples collected. Results indicate that midge reduction is variable and inconsistent with the Mosquito Magnets compared to the control sample. No other models are discussed and there are no ratings.
5. Maryland Department of Agriculture	Mosquito Control Program Description Researchers at the Maryland Department of Agriculture Not Dated		This informative article explores mosquito biology, surveillance methods and control options. It criticizes electrocuting devices such as bug zappers and Citrosa plants as ineffective for mosquito control. The article references a 2001 study conducted by the Maryland Department of Agriculture that contradicts Mosquito Magnet's claim of controlling mosquitoes in an area of up to one acre. Researchers found the Mosquito Magnet to be a good tool in collecting samples for surveillance, however.
6. St. Petersburg Times	Review: Mosquito Magnet Liberty William Lampkin June 2002		The writer tests the Mosquito Magnet Liberty in his own backyard with disappointing results. After some setup glitches with the power cord, the unit only caught about a dozen mosquitoes -- but many more gnats and no-see-ums -- after running continuously for one week. The test does not compare the Magent Liberty to other mosquito traps, nor are any other rated. Lampkin's advice is to keep using a spray-on repellent.
7. Abstract from 72nd American Mosquito Control Association Annual	Coleman's Md-2500 Mosquito Trap: Industry's Best Kept Secret? Daniel Kline Mar. 2006		A USDA researcher evaluates Coleman's Mosquito Deleto 25000 trap (no longer available) over the course of one year in a suburban neighborhood to test its efficiency and reliability. The trap rarely shuts down, usually due to a clogged gas assembly tip, and caught more than 20 mosquito species. The test included octenol, acetone, and lactic acid lures. In a second study, the Coleman trap is compared to Blue Rhino's SV-2000, along with the Mosquito Magnet Liberty Plus and Pro in a coastal environment. All models "caught large numbers of mosquitoes and biting midges," according to the study. But there are no mosquito trap ratings, and the models are not ranked.
8. American Mosquito Control Association	Traps and Trapping Techniques for Adult Mosquito Control Daniel Kline Apr. 2005		Researchers evaluate propane-powered traps over three years to manage salt marsh mosquitoes in the Gulf of Mexico. Twenty-one Mosquito Magnet Pro mosquito traps were operated continuously, significantly reducing the population to the point where even a repellent wasn't needed. The test does not compare or rate this model against others, however.
9. American Mosquito Control Association	Comparison of Carbon Dioxide and Octenol-Baited Encephalitis Virus Surveillance Mosquito Traps at the Shoal Water Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia R. Miller, J. Wing, S. Cope, R. Davey and D. Kline Dec. 2005		Researchers evaluate the use of octenol in combination with CO2-baited traps during a military deployment in Queensland, Australia in 2001. They conclude that octenol increases the number of mosquitoes captured fivefold, and leads to a greater number of species captured than with CO2 alone (six vs. three). More mosquitoes are captured in coastal environments compared to inland. The article does not give recommendations or ratings for specific traps.
10. Journal of Chemical Ecology	Geographic Variation in Attraction to Human Odor Compounds by Aedes Aegypti Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): A Laboratory Study C. Williams, R. Scott, R. Russell, A. Eiras, D. Kline, and M. Geier January 2006		Researchers test lactic acid, a key attractant compound from human skin, alone and in combination with ammonia and the fatty caproic acid against four mosquito populations of distinct geographic origin (Australia, Brazil, Singapore, and the U.S.). Results indicate behavioral variability among the populations to individual odors and odor combinations. For instance, while all four populations are attracted to lactic acid, the U.S. population is the most sensitive. Trap development may require some specialization depending on the region of origin, the researchers conclude. The article does not give recommendations for specific traps.

Mosquito Traps Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Mosquito Traps Ratings Comments on Reviews

11. American Mosquito Control Association	Laboratory Evaluation of Mosquito Traps Baited with a Synthetic Human Odor Blend to Capture Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) I. Silva, A. Eiras, D. Kline, and U. Bernier June 2005		Scientists at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Center for Medical, Agricultural & Veterinary Entomology, and Brazilian scientists compare four mosquito traps that are not widely available commercially. Traps are tested with a synthetic blend of chemicals comprised of volatiles released by the human body against mosquitoes that transmit yellow fever. Results show that the more synthetic blend used in a trap, the more mosquitoes caught. The article does not give recommendations for specific traps and testing is confined to the laboratory.
12. U.S. News & World Report	Bite Me! Not So Fast. As West Nile Virus Looms, Mosquito Traps Are Getting Smarter Michelle Andrews June 2003		In this conversational article about the popularity of mosquito traps amid fears of West Nile Virus, Andrews describes the Mosquito Magnet trapping technology in-depth, as well as mentioning other models offered by American Biophysics Corporation. She references a 2002 USDA test that found that the Mosquito Magnet Pro killed more mosquitoes overnight than either the Mosquito Magnet Liberty or Coleman's Mosquito Deleto. She dismisses bug zappers and foggers, explaining that they kill everything, including harmless bugs. Andrews quotes USDA researcher Daniel Kline, who recommends Blue Rhino's SkeeterVac based on initial testing. She does not conduct her own comparative tests.
13. Epinions	Mosquito Traps Contributors to Epinions As of June 2006		Epinions is a good resource for consumer ratings of mosquito traps, although most products receive fewer than ten reviews. When we visited, Lentek's Mosquito Trap won high marks for efficiently capturing mosquitoes, but reviewers didn't like its loud fan and tricky burner. Reviewers criticize Mosquito Magnet's Liberty and Defender models as expensive and unreliable.
14. Amazon.com	Mosquito Traps Contributors to Amazon.com As of June 2006		Amazon.com, like Epinions, offers good customer feedback on a variety of models of mosquito traps. Most products receive fewer than ten reviews with average ratings. The Mosquito Liberty earns 2.5 of 5 stars based on 41 reviews. Several owners complain that the unit stopped working after a few months. One reviewer caught 947 mosquitoes in one month using the trap.
15. Mosquito Mega-Catch	Ultra Outcatches Mosquito Magnet Liberty, Flowtron, Dragon Fly, Lentek, Mosquito Deleto, and Sonic Web J.P. Smith 2003		Researchers at Florida A&M University compare seven commercial traps and one under development. Each trap ran a total of 24 days, three times at each of eight locations, in the summer and fall of 2002. The Mosquito Mega-Catch and the Mosquito Magnet Liberty captured 2.5 to 3 times more mosquitoes than the next best trap, the Lentek Mosquito Trap. The Magnet Liberty caught 16 species, the greatest number of any trap. We could not independently confirm this study, which is published on Mega-Catch's web site, so we're uncertain as to its reliability.
16. Mosquito Magnet	A Comparative Study of Three Commercially Available Mosquito Traps for Monitoring Mosquito Populations Alan Wheeler Not dated		A senior researcher for the Cayman Islands Mosquito Research & Control Unit tests the Mosquito Magnet Liberty against Coleman's Mosquito Deleto and Applica's SonicWeb. Testing is conducted in a swamp area with high mosquito density and an urban area with low mosquito density over a three-month period. The Liberty trap collects significantly more mosquitoes than its closest competitor, the Mosquito Deleto (7,161 vs. 37) and a wider range of species. We could not independently confirm this study, which was found on the Mosquito Magnet web site, so we're unsure of its objectivity.
17. The Economist	A Better Mosquito Trap Editors of The Economist April 2001		The article recommends Mega-Catch based on test runs that show it can trap as many as 1,200 mozzies per night, and the trap’s adaptability to different species. It is not clear from the article whether those test runs were conducted by The Economist or another source. No other traps are mentioned or rated.