"Yard Guy" wrote in message
...
I remember seeing these propane-powered mosquito traps at local
big-box
hardware stores a few years ago, but I don't think I've seen
any of them
lately. They retailed for around $300 and up to $450 if I
remember
correctly. Some brand names include Skeeter Vac and Mosquito
Magnet.

What's the verdict on these things? Are they effective?


My limited experience with the controversy stems from the many
factors that influence the effectiveness of the traps (prevailing
wind, landscaping, etc.)

I maintain 2 Liberty Plus / Mosquito Magnets (cordless 1 acre
version) for three years now.

One for me (mine) and one for in-laws (theirs).

After many attempts to find optimal locations by moving the traps
around the two properties my results are as follows.

Mine is very effective, catching lots of mosquitos and a
noticeable reduction in mosquito troubles.
Theirs is not effective, catching relatively few and having
continual mosquito troubles.

Mine is on the edge/corner of the yard at the top of a sloping
open lawn with bushes around the perimeter and away from the
house.

Theirs is at the edge of a heavily wooded lot with sloping hill,
a creek nearby, rock outcrops, oddly shaped yard and open
space/patio bordered by low thick bushes.

When i purchased my traps the hardware guy offered me an
annecdote about how one year there was a run on their mosquito
trap inventory. The traps were returned in droves with the
primary complaint being they made the mosquito problem worse.
When he asked about the location of the mosquito traps it was
mostly placed on the deck or patio. So, the traps were just
attracting the mosquitos to the areas where people did not want
them.

hth
robb

robb wrote:

My limited experience with the controversy stems from the
many factors that influence the effectiveness of the traps
(prevailing wind, landscaping, etc.)

When i purchased my traps the hardware guy offered me an
annecdote about how one year there was a run on their mosquito
trap inventory. The traps were returned in droves with the
primary complaint being they made the mosquito problem worse.
When he asked about the location of the mosquito traps it was
mostly placed on the deck or patio. So, the traps were just
attracting the mosquitos to the areas where people did not want
them.

The location of the trap in the yard should make no difference - and I
would say that you want the trap to be located where you or other people
usually are in the yard - not in some distant, isolated corner.

The idea that wind is an issue is bogus. If it's too windy for the trap
to work then it's also too windy for a mosquito to find and land on me
as well.

It seems that these devices are good at attracting mosquitoes, but not
catching them.

If they attract more mosquitoes to their immediate area than would
ordinarily be there, and if they don't vacuum up 100% of those excess
mosquites AS WELL AS capture some of the ones that were already there,
then the devices are clearly not beneficial to have.

Yard Guy wrote:
robb wrote:

My limited experience with the controversy stems from the
many factors that influence the effectiveness of the traps
(prevailing wind, landscaping, etc.)

When i purchased my traps the hardware guy offered me an
annecdote about how one year there was a run on their mosquito
trap inventory. The traps were returned in droves with the
primary complaint being they made the mosquito problem worse.
When he asked about the location of the mosquito traps it was
mostly placed on the deck or patio. So, the traps were just
attracting the mosquitos to the areas where people did not want
them.

The location of the trap in the yard should make no difference

Wrong. You clearly dont want to be attracting mosquitos to where the humans are.

And since they work on CO2 and attractant, you
clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind.

- and I would say that you want the trap to be located
where you or other people usually are in the yard -

You're wrong. That will attract mosquitos to that
area and if the trap doesnt get them into the trap
quickly, they will start biting the humans there.

not in some distant, isolated corner.

The idea that wind is an issue is bogus.

Like hell it is.

If it's too windy for the trap to work then it's also too
windy for a mosquito to find and land on me as well.

Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work
out where the CO2 and smells are coming from.

It seems that these devices are good at
attracting mosquitoes, but not catching them.

Doesnt explain why he ends up with lots of mosquitos in his
trap and far fewer in the parents' trap with an identical design.

If they attract more mosquitoes to their immediate area than would
ordinarily be there, and if they don't vacuum up 100% of those excess
mosquites AS WELL AS capture some of the ones that were already
there, then the devices are clearly not beneficial to have.

Yes, but clearly they do trap lots of mosquitos at his place.

Rod Speed wrote:

The location of the trap in the yard should make no difference

Wrong. You clearly dont want to be attracting mosquitos to where
the humans are.

I want the mosquitoes that ARE close to me to be attracted and captured
BY THE TRAP. That's not going to happen if the trap is 100 feet from me
in some isolated corner of the yard.

And since they work on CO2 and attractant, you
clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind.

Wind shmind.

First you say that wind is bad for these traps to operate, now you say
that a downwind is necessary. Which one is it?

- and I would say that you want the trap to be located
where you or other people usually are in the yard -

You're wrong. That will attract mosquitos to that area

Well guess what. Just me being there will attract mosquitos to that
area. So we're back to square one.

and if the trap doesnt get them into the trap
quickly, they will start biting the humans there.

That's the problem with these things. They seem to do a terrible job at
actually capturing them.

If it's too windy for the trap to work then it's also too
windy for a mosquito to find and land on me as well.

Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work
out where the CO2 and smells are coming from.

Again, your statements are contradictory.

- "you clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind"

- "Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work out where
the CO2 and smells are coming from"

Can a "downwind" also be a "light wind"?

"Yard Guy" wrote in message ...
Rod Speed wrote:

The location of the trap in the yard should make no difference

Wrong. You clearly dont want to be attracting mosquitos to where
the humans are.

I want the mosquitoes that ARE close to me to be attracted and captured
BY THE TRAP. That's not going to happen if the trap is 100 feet from me
in some isolated corner of the yard.

And since they work on CO2 and attractant, you
clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind.

Wind shmind.

First you say that wind is bad for these traps to operate, now you say
that a downwind is necessary. Which one is it?

- and I would say that you want the trap to be located
where you or other people usually are in the yard -

You're wrong. That will attract mosquitos to that area

Well guess what. Just me being there will attract mosquitos to that
area. So we're back to square one.

and if the trap doesnt get them into the trap
quickly, they will start biting the humans there.

That's the problem with these things. They seem to do a terrible job at
actually capturing them.

If it's too windy for the trap to work then it's also too
windy for a mosquito to find and land on me as well.

Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work
out where the CO2 and smells are coming from.

Again, your statements are contradictory.

- "you clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind"

- "Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work out where
the CO2 and smells are coming from"

Can a "downwind" also be a "light wind"?

When the Mosquito magnet was first out and very popular, they had an
interactive "video" on their web site. (in fact, they still do, as I just
found when I looked) that shows pretty much what Rod is saying.
http://support.mosquitomagnet.com/placement/start.html . The prevailing wind
direction, and the placement of the unit is critical to the success of its
operation. I tried mine everywhere I could think of, and it still only
catches less than 20 mosquitoes each night. It definitely must not be
placed where you hang out.

RP

Yard Guy wrote
Rod Speed wrote
Yard Guy wrote

The location of the trap in the yard should make no difference

Wrong. You clearly dont want to be attracting
mosquitos to where the humans are.

I want the mosquitoes that ARE close to me
to be attracted and captured BY THE TRAP.

What I said in different words.

That's not going to happen if the trap is 100 feet
from me in some isolated corner of the yard.

Wrong if thats upwind of where you are.

And since they work on CO2 and attractant, you
clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind.

Wind shmind.

Wota stunningly rational line of argument you have there, child.

First you say that wind is bad for these traps to operate,

No I didnt.

now you say that a downwind is necessary.

I didnt say that either, particularly when its clam.

Which one is it?

Neither.

- and I would say that you want the trap to be located
where you or other people usually are in the yard -

You're wrong. That will attract mosquitos to that area

Well guess what. Just me being there will attract mosquitos to that area.

Not when the trap is more attractive to mosquitoes than the
humans are, because it puts out more CO2 than the humans do.

So we're back to square one.

Wrong, as always.

and if the trap doesnt get them into the trap
quickly, they will start biting the humans there.

That's the problem with these things.

Not with the counterflow traps that do get them quickly and you
havent been stupid enough to put them where the humans are.

They seem to do a terrible job at actually capturing them.

They obviously dont if they catch a hell of a lot of mosquitos every night.

If it's too windy for the trap to work then it's also too
windy for a mosquito to find and land on me as well.

Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work
out where the CO2 and smells are coming from.

Again, your statements are contradictory.

Nope.

- "you clearly will only attract mosquitos from downwind"

Doesnt say anything about when its calm, stupid.

- "Light wind makes it harder for mosquitos to work
out where the CO2 and smells are coming from"

Can a "downwind" also be a "light wind"?

Anyone with even half a clue realises that mosquotes
just arent a problem when its quite windy.