Are bug zappers a good idea?

Emily VukovicReporter

There are other ways to keep mosquitoes away, experts say.

There's nothing more annoying than the sound of a buzzing mosquito when you're trying to relax outside on a warm summer evening.

Most people have their preferred method of warding off bugs, but not all repellants are created equal.

Some can even be destructive.

"Bug zappers that use UV light are probably attracting 90 per cent of non-mosquito insects," explains Andalyne Tofflemire, a naturalist and conservatory manager at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory in southern Ontario.

"So you're trying to target the bugs you don't want, but you're killing a lot of bugs that aren't harmful to you."

Tofflemire says moths -- an important night-time pollinator species -- are often killed in backyard bug zappers.

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The impact of bug zappers on nocturnal pollinators has been talked about for some time, but they remain popular even though they often kill bugs that eat mosquitoes.

Better bug-repelling options include covering up and using bug sprays, as well as using a fan to keep air circulating.

Be sure to watch the video above for more details.


Thumbnail image courtesy: Getty Images