What is a mosquito zapper?

A mosquito zapper uses pheromones and gases to attract mosquitoes and biting flies into an electrically charged enclosure where the current electrocutes the bug. This device magnifies a small current of electricity into a charged area that when crossed, causes the bug to be zapped.

Traditional bug zappers use ultraviolet or neon lighting to attract flying bugs; a mosquito zapper, however, uses other means. Mosquitoes are attracted by carbon dioxide and the pheromone octenol because they feed on the blood of mammals. As they are attracted to the carbon dioxide in human skin and breath, using a hormone and gas combination is one of the most effective methods for attracting them.