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Zapping those flying bugs

There are few things in life
more irksome than paying a
small fortune for a new patio
and being unable to enjoy it

because of stinging insect

pests. Oh yes. you can spray
yourself with insect repellent
or burn incense candles -- if
you don't mind the smell Or
you can spray bushes and
(rees with insect fogger
These methods are not only

expensive, theyre only
mildly effectve

Luckily for us patio
dwellers, there is a product
available today that uses
black ght, an wresistible
lure, to altract mosquitos,
fhes and gnats into an

clectrically charged field
where they are zapped for
keeps The clectrome insect
killer has been perfected and
is now avatlable = for
residential homeowners.

The principle behind the
electronic insect killer (also
called bug light, bug zapper.
insect: electrocutor and fly
killer) as relatively simple

Surround an electnc light
bulb with a parallel gnd of
electric wires, one gnd
carnies a positive charge and
the other a negative Since
the most common flying
insect pests are attracted to
hight, they fly through the
grid with the idea of landing
on the hght bulb But, they
don't make at Their hte
bodies are large enough to
attract: electrons from the
Negative grid. causing a
spark to leap from one grid
to the next. zapping the fly
or mosquito inp mid- flight
The are 1s powerful enough
lo  vapounze many tiny
insects, so the grid ts actually
self cleaning

Although the 9 system
sounds somewhat drastic in

bald outhne, it is safe as

most any other electric
apphance

Nocturnal insects are no
problem Mosquitos are
active at night when the
black light) bulb is = most

effective. Mosquitos are
“phototactic” as well -- that
is, they are born with an
uncontrollable reflex to
move toward hght Although
any light we see also lures
mosquitos, they are most
sensitive to light we don't
see. Black hght or ultramiolet
radiation lies beyond our
visible hght spectrum. Fhes,
gnats, mosquitos and moths
see ultraviolet light as easily
as we see “white” light: They
see the hght and fly toit

For best) results. at ts
important to install the
electronic insect) kaller in
their flght path , between
your paho or swimiging pool

and the source of mosquitos
Also, use yellow patio hehts
Yellow hght has a much
longer wavelength than
ultramolet hght and ts less
visible (o insects.

Install the electronic
insect killer in early spring
when the “bug season” first
begins and Icave tt on 24
hours a day until mid-

autumn. You want to zap as
many female, egg-bearing
insects as possible and do it
early. It normally takes three
breeding cycles of 10 to 14
days each before you ex-
penence a nouceable effect

Because insect killers are
low-wattage units, they are
inexpensive to operate.

These units are designed
for outdoor use and will not
be damaged by heavy rain.
However, rain drops will
cause arcing across the grids
and a fairly constant “static”
sound. If the notse bothers
you, unplug the unt
carefully and plug it in again
after the storm.

Mosquitos are most active
on hot, windless nights and
thats when youll appreciate
having an electromc insect
killer mdding your yard of
these hitthe vampires. It's a
small price to pay when you
consider the cost of your
patio and landscaping -- and
the time you enjoy outdoors.

C17-Sunday News, May 18, 1980

uver

IT IS IMPORTANT
to install an electronic
insect killer between
your activity area and
the shrubs that
harbour mosquitos.
The 25-watt John
Deere unit shown
here should be instal-
led 20 to 30 feet away
from a patio. It will
attract flying imsect
pests within a range of
about 1/3-acre.

Dave Jenneson

George Robb

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