The last two days we and our neighbors have been inundated by these annoying guys. We have never seen them before and we’ve been here for years. What are they? We live in New Smyrna Beach, Florida on a manmade lake.
Thanks! D and B
Please if you have any info regarding the specification of this type of insect, drop your comment below. Thanks!
When you are trying to enjoy your summer day, annoying bugs like mosquitoes, biting midges, and black flies can put a major crimp in your style.
Besides the maddening buzz and the itchy bites these insects bring, they often carry diseases that infect humans.
An otherwise perfect summer evening, lounging in the swinging chair on the patio, enjoying a cold Peruvian Pisco is swiftly disturbed by irksome bugs.
Your only solution is taking matters into own hands. Be proactive and keep your personal space bug-free. In other words, if bugs bug you, a badass bug zapper is the answer.
To eliminate these pests, it is important to uncover the best bug zapper. And, as is so often the case, which device is best depends on your needs.
Do you need a heavy-duty machine? Looking for a portable model? Need it in the home or the RV? Is discrete appearance important to you? Or are you looking for a simple unit that just does what it’s designed for?
We’ve got you covered in your clash against your flying foes.
Here are the top 6 most popular bug zappers for gnats, flies, mosquitoes, moths and other nuisances. Thes devices will help keep both your summertime activities and laziness bug free.
Bang for Your Buck. This bug zapper works effectively for anyone who has a garage, lawn, or patio and lives anywhere but the North Pole. The unit is available in three sizes so that you can choose the model that best fits the needs of your property. Thanks to the large grill, it accommodates insects of all shapes.
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The steel rod construction does not get clogged like mesh materials commonly found on lower quality products and provides a staggered pattern to keep curious fingers and paws from getting burned.
The programmable settings allow you to run the unit only when it is needed so that energy is saved.
The plastic enclosure, which is styled like traditional rod iron, is pleasing to the eyes and resembles something out of Colonial America.
The ultraviolet light attracts bugs at night, and an octenol mosquito lure helps pull in bloodsuckers that are active during the day.
Use the brass ring to hang it outside, but keep it at a distance from food or other people. Since it attracts numerous insects, you may not enjoy listening to the sound of bugs getting electrocuted.
The zapper’s powerful 40-watt bulb and high-voltage grid eats bugs for breakfast, lunch and dinner, so you can finally turn the tables on those bloodsucking mosquitoes.
Tip: this advanced system attracts and kills bugs in a 1-acre area and works great when placed 20 feet away from a deck or patio. The unit is intended for outdoor use only.
The Flowtron Bug Zapper with Programmable Photocell Timer is a state-of-the-art unit. Keep in mind that bulbs should be replaced annually. Lures should be replaced monthly.
Inside Job. The only thing more annoying than swatting insects outdoors is swatting insects indoors. This bug zapper allows you to enjoy time in your home. Its size and design is not intrusive, so it will not dominate your interior decor. Its ultraviolet black light attracts pests within 6,000 square feet.
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Bugs are attracted to the bright UV light and killed by the charged grid. Although it’s intended for indoor use, it can also kill bugs in a garage, basement or under a covered porch.
No chemical lures are required. Your lungs will appreciate the electric power that takes the place of toxic chemicals used in other products, which create unhealthy fumes. With every snap, crackle, and pop, you will know your investment is working well. The chain hanger makes it simple to install anywhere.
However, since the metal frame can cause mild shocks, it should be kept away from children and your fuzzy four-legged friends.
Aspectek makes two popular indoor bug zappers.
Plus, the catch tray can be removed and washed for easy maintenance. Stink bugs, moths, mosquitoes, flies and bugs large or small will be terminated by this insect assassin.
Tip: For best results, hang the unit about 6 feet from the ground using the provided chain to create a 6,000-square-foot bug-free zone. You can also set the unit on a floor or table. Just make sure that your pets or kids won’t get zapped.
The Aspectec Electronic Indoor Insect Killer Zapper keeps your indoor areas free from bugging infestations.
Big Bad Bug Zapper. The Flowtron FC-8800 Diplomat is the Cadillac of bug zappers. If you brag about your mosquito problem, if you’re plagued by giant gallinippers, if you live in a swamp, if you need transfusions from all the bites, this is the best bug zapper for you.
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It’s powerful. This zapper controls up to two acres outside or 1,200 square feet indoors. This means it can be out of view and still do a great job keeping insects out of sight as well. With a 2-acre coverage area, you’ll kill all the bugs in your proximity. Who cares if it’s overkill? When it comes to infuriating mosquitoes, you can’t kill too many.
Anyone with a barn will find it ideal as a protectant for animals and an effective way to eliminate all flying pests.
The UV light is extremely bright and draws in the bugs. Keep this in mind, it is not as bright as construction lights, but do keep in mind it is much shinier than the ordinary glow of smaller zappers. So unless you want to revisit your night club days, the radiance may be a distraction.
The 120-watt UV lamp will silently seduce any mosquitoes in the area. The lamp’s killing grid is charged with 5,600 volts, so if you’ve got skeeters the size of birds, this zapper will finish them off.
This device is ideal for indoor or outdoor applications, dumpsters, trash receptacles and barns. It would probably work in a landfill in the Everglades, and it has an extra-long cord.
This bad boy is known as the “Big Kahuna” of insect control. Before you know it, the bugs will be surfing into the collection tray.
Click here to purchase the Flowtron FC-8800 Diplomat.
Best Portable Option. This insect zapper functions as a regular LED light and a bug killing machine. At the touch of a button, the light from two white bulbs are exchanged for a black UV light that attracts the bugs.
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Thanks to the cordless option, it is not necessary to be next to an outlet during use. The sturdy metal ring makes it easy to hang in the garage or kitchen, next to the pool, or by the patio. The engineering details provide added safety while cleaning the tray.
However, the coverage area includes a 625 foot radius, so a large property will require multiple units outside. If you don’t have an outlet around every corner of your home, this cordless insect zapper by Stinger is a great option with an attractive price. Hang it near your patio. Use it in your RV, or take it on your next camping trip.
The unit has LEDs if you need a portable lantern, a black light for attracting bugs and a smelly octenol lure that you might not want to use indoors. The good news is that this bug zapper is almost as effective without the lure.
To keep your fingers from roasting like hot dogs on a barbecue grill, a safety switch deactivates the killing grid during removal. The small profile does not take up much space, especially when you are indoors.
Keep in mind that while using it indoors near a power source you can’t charge the battery and run the light continuously. Don’t be fooled because it’s portable, despite the fact that you’ll be limited to four bug-zapping hours, this device is more powerful than you might expect.
Tip: for best results, place the light about 10 feet away from where you’re sitting to enjoy 600 square feet of clear airspace.
Need potent portable insect elimination? Win the battle against the swarms with the Stinger Cordless Rechargeable Insect Zapper.
Versatile option. Enjoy a swat-free summer night with high-tech device that can be used both indoors and outdoors. Black Flag is the # 1 consumer recognized brand in the Bug Zapper category.
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Black Flag’s superior voltage packs a wallop for outdoor pests, utilizing a 5,500-volt current to attract native flies, mosquitoes and other flying critters. And you won’t need to worry about your electric bill: the BZ-40 offers a light sensor that powers on only at night when you need it most.
It also doesn’t detract from your backyard lighting: the easy to replace 40 Watt black bulb works in conjunction with a built-in octenol lure, which will tempt even the smartest of mosquitoes.
With many options on the market, BZ-40 is claimed to exterminate 40% more insects than its competitors while it won’t break the bank. It also offers a solid 3 year warranty with purchase.
So when the sun sets, you can raise your Black Flag like a pirate’s jolly roger in triumph over your cookout’s biggest enemy.
Click here to read reviews and order your Black Flag BZ-40.
Multi-Purpose Attack. More is always better, so this set of four solar powered bug killers will perform well to keep your yard free of pests.
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You may already have lights staked throughout your property, but a few of these devices offer the ability to change between regular lights and bug zapping performance with the flip of a switch.
Within seconds, you can turn illuminating lights into bug guzzling devices. Thanks to the solar power, you are not confined to placing the items near outlets or replacing batteries every few days.
Each lamp has the perfect blend of form and function and contains a UV black light that attracts and kills annoying insects.
These dual-purpose bug zappers look and work like traditional path lights. In theory they look great around the yard by providing extra brilliance and convenient pest control.
When the sun goes down and the bugs come out, flick the switch on the UV lamp and let the killing begin.
Plus, they come in a convenient four-pack to quadruple your bug-zapping potential. Unlike other cordless zappers, you don’t have to bring these babies inside to charge.
They use the sun’s rays to power a nickel–metal hydride battery designed especially for high-drain applications. If bugs aren’t a problem, use the amber LEDs to illuminate your patio, walkway or garden.
The lamps work in most weather, and if things get really bad, you can always use the lamps inside as well. To preserve their useful life, you should remove them from the ground when winter hits.
Tip: make sure to thorougly read reviews to see if these will help in your situation.
Westinghouse Solar-Powered Bug Killer Stake Lights are bug whackers in disguise.
Back in the old days, when you got a mosquito bite, you dabbed on calamine lotion and tried to ignore it.
Looking back at it, those were crazy times. Especially considering the fact that people used to spray fogger in the kitchen while cooking a family meal.
Nowadays, mosquitoes carry all kinds of nasty diseases, and we’re afraid to use insecticides.
Fortunately, these old-school bug zappers offer a chemical-free solution, and the technology is better than ever. These 6 models are the best bug zappers for the job, and they’ll do all of the work for you.
Start using one, and people may actually come to your barbeques again.
Click here if you’re looking for handheld insect zappers.
Which are the most common bugs of Florida? Florida has at least 12,500 insect species. They all eat something, and whether humans call them “pests” depends on how they impact our lives.
Some of them eat the plants we consider important, and some of them bite, sting, or try to feed on us. Many insects are considered invasive species that arrived in Florida by accident or were intentionally introduced. Many of the invaders affect Florida residents and its environment in a negative way.
The following is a sampling of the 30 insect species most common to our state.
Palmetto Bug. Scientific name: Eurycotis floridana. This large cockroach grows to a length of 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in). It is found mostly outdoors, where it eats detritus and leaf-litter, but occasionally will sneak into houses.
‘No-See-Um’. These are the biting midges of the genus Culicoides; 47 species of which are known to occur in Florida. They are so small that you can’t see them (hence the nickname ‘No-See-Um’). They are a nuisance to people outdoors who might spend time near shorelines or wetland areas when winds are calm. They leave small red welts where they bite.
Yellow Fly. Scientific name: Diachlorus ferrugatus. Yellow flies are ferocious biters, with female flies needing a blood meal in order to develop their eggs after mating. Their peak season in Florida is April through June.
Stable Fly (Dog Fly). Scientific name: Stomoxys calcitrans. This biting fly originated in Asia, but now can be found worldwide. It mostly attacks dogs and cattle, but will also bite humans. In northwest Florida, stable flies will conglomerate in large numbers in seaweed washed-up on the shoreline and attack humans who venture too close. The small flies are affected by wind currents, and how the winds blow can determine how bad the biting will become. The flies can become so bad that it affects tourism.
Carolina wolf spider. Scientific name: Hogna carolinensis. These large spiders can reach 25 mm (0.98 in) in size. Though they look ferocious, they shy away from humans. They are beneficial in that they consume insect pests for food. Females are noted for carrying their young on their back.
Red Fire Ant. Scientific name: Solenopsis invicta. The fire ant is native to South America, but has become a pest in the southern United States. Fire ant mounds can be found in back yards all over Florida. Fire ants give a painful sting that often leaves a swollen pustule on the skin.
Formosan Subterranean Termite. Scientific name: Coptotermes formosanus. An invasive species from Asia, which arrived in Florida around 1980. It is often nicknamed the ‘super-termite’ because of its destructive habits. These termites can seriously damage a wooden structure in as little as 3 months.
Citrus Leafminer. Scientific name: Phyllocnistis citrella. This moth is an invasive species from Asia that first entered Florida in 1993. The moth’s larvae mines the leaves of citrus trees, severely impacting the Florida citrus industry.
Southern Mole Cricket. Scientific name: Scapteriscus borellii. This insect is an invasive species from South America. It is fairly large—about 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) long, and can be found in yards all over Florida where turf-grass is planted. Mole crickets burrow beneath the turf, feeding on the roots of the grass, causing damage to lawns.
Yellow Fever Mosquito. Scientific name: Aedes aegypti. This mosquito is an invader from Africa which hitched a ride to the New World with the slave trade. It can spread the dengue fever, chikungunya, and yellow fever viruses, along with other diseases. Yellow fever became a scourge of the tropics and neotropics until effective mosquito control was instituted after about 1900. A yellow fever vaccine was developed by 1937.
Eastern Velvet Ant. Scientific name: Dasymutilla occidentalis. This insect is actually a wingless species of wasp, attaining an approximate length of 0.75 in (1.9 cm). Females are capable of an extremely painful sting, hence the ant’s nick-name “cow killer”.
Eastern Carpenter Bee. Scientific name: Xylocopa virginica. It is often mistaken for a large bumblebee, as they are similar in size and appearance. They sometimes bore holes in wood dwellings, becoming minor pests. Only females can sting.
American Dog Tick. Scientific name: Dermacentor variabilis. This tick is common throughout the eastern and southern United States, to include Florida. It is one of the most well-known hard ticks and is a vector for Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia.
Asian tiger mosquito. Scientific name: Aedes albopictus. This mosquito was first documented in Florida in 1986. It is a vector for several diseases, including equine encephalitis.
Tomato Hornworm. Scientific name: Manduca quinquemaculata. Tomato hornworms are large caterpillars that are the larvae of the Five-Spotted Moth. They are voracious eaters of tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant and peppers in back yard gardens and can quickly defoliate these plants.
Brown Recluse Spider. Scientific name: Loxosceles reclusa. Only the extreme northwest portion of the Florida Panhandle lies within the natural range of this spider. The brown recluse possesses a powerful venom and can give a serious bite. Luckily, bites to humans from the species are uncommon.
Two-Striped Walkingstick. Scientific name: Anisomorpha buprestoides. This is the most common stick insect in Florida, and can be found feeding on leaves of trees and shrubs.
Hieroglyphic Cicada. Scientific name: Anisomorpha buprestoides. This cicada prefers to eat the sap of oak trees. It is the first species to be heard in spring–its song starts with a sequence of progressively softer whiney bursts and ends with an even whine.
Florida Carpenter Ant. Scientific name: Camponotus floridanus. This ant is among the largest ants found in Florida. They do not sting, but can bite. They nest in soft rotting or pithy wood.
Southern Black Widow. Scientific name: Latrodectus mactans. This venomous spider is found throughout the southeastern United States. It likes to inhabit wood and rock piles, rodent burrows, and hollow tree stumps.
Thorn Bug. Scientific name: Umbonia crassicornis. The thorn bug is an occasional pest of ornamentals and fruit trees in southern Florida. The insect causes damage by piercing the plant tissue and sucking the sap and by making cuts in the plant for egg laying.
Lovebug. Scientific name: Plecia nearctica. Lovebugs swarm to mate in late spring and during the summer. Males and females will pair and remain stuck together during mating. Automobiles driving through a swarm of lovebugs will emerge covered with smashed bugs, and if not washed off soon, the insect residue can damage the paint on a car.
Florida Scorpionfly. Scientific name: Panorpa floridana. No living individuals of the Florida scorpionfly have ever been observed. Nothing is thus known about the insect’s habits and life history. It appears as if males of this species have a large stinger in their tail; however this is just a reproductive organ.
Spined Soldier Bug. Scientific name: Podisus maculiventris. This carnivorous insect is very beneficial to mankind, as it is a predator of around 90 insect species, to include several crop and garden pests.
Citrus Gall Midge. Scientific name: Prodiplosis longifila. This tiny midge lays its eggs in the buds of lime trees. The larvae when hatched feed on the flowers, damaging them, and interfering with fruit development.
Catalpa Worm. Scientific name: Ceratomia catalpae. This “worm” is actually the caterpillar of the Catalpa Sphinx Moth. These moths lay their eggs on the leaves of the southern catalpa tree, which hatch into the colorful larvae. The caterpillars are prized as bait by fishermen.
Zebra Longwing Butterfly. Scientific name: Heliconius charitonia. The zebra longwing butterfly is the state butterfly of Florida. It lays its eggs on the leaves of the passion fruit vine, and has a very colorful larval (caterpillar) stage.
Miami Blue Butterfly. Scientific name: Cyclargus thomasi bethunebakeri. A small butterfly that is native to coastal areas of southern Florida. Once very common throughout its range, it has become critically endangered because of habitat loss. It may be the rarest insect in the United States.
Florida Predatory Stinkbug. Scientific name: Euthyrhynchus floridanus. This carnivorous insect is very beneficial to mankind, because most of its prey consists of plant-damaging bugs, beetles, and caterpillars.
Gulf Coast Tick. Scientific name: Amblyomma maculatum. This tick is common throughout the southern United States, including all of Florida. It is of increasing concern because of its ability to transmit several pathogens of veterinary and medical importance.
Frank, J.H. & Thomas, M.C. (2015). Invasive Insects (Adventive Pest Insects) in Florida. Retrieved from http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in503
IFAS. (2015). Featured Creatures. Retrieved from
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/main/search_common.htm