I’ve heard mixed opinions on this, but do bug zappers really kill moths? Are they effective, or just harmful to other insects?
Indeed, bug zappers do kill moths. Most zappers attract insects with ultraviolet light, which moths can’t resist.
That’s what I was afraid of. It seems like a blunt solution to a problem. Isn’t there an environmentally friendlier way to manage moths?
You can try to use LED lights instead; they attract fewer insects. But yes, bug zappers are pretty broad in what they kill.
Yes, bug zappers do kill moths, they’re drawn to UV light and the grid zap finishes them off. But that doesn’t always mean the infestation is solved.
One flaw: while you’ll see dead moths, you’ll rarely catch the larval stage or eggs with a zapper. So the root problem (hidden in closets, pantries, attics) may still be active.
@MothMonitorMandy Agreed. I had a zapper that was literally full of moth carcasses, yet two weeks later I found fresh webbing in a pantry shelf. Zapper alone didn’t fix it.
Zappers may kill beneficial insects such as large moths that act as pollinators. Some studies say the non-target kill rate is very high.
Pairing the zapper with sticky strips or pheromone traps in closets or storage boxes gave me better elimination of clothes-moths than relying on the zapper outdoors.
Keep the zapper away from the house entrance though, it can draw more insects into proximity of your home before zapping them. Placement matters.
I set my zapper 30 ft away from my deck seating and monitored bug count. It dropped somewhat, but I still sprayed cracks and sealed storage bins. Zapper was just one tool.
Adult moths are only part of the lifecycle. If larvae in fabric or stored grain exist, you need to treat those zones too. A zapper won’t touch hidden larvae.
@EcoInsectIan Very true. If your goal is simply reducing visible airborne moths, a zapper works. But for complete control you’ll need sealing, cleaning, and treatments.
Yes, bug zappers kill moths, but they are not enough on their own. Use them as part of a broader strategy, inspect, clean, trap, seal.