Are USB Bug Zappers Worth Buying? Here's What Reviews Are Saying

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Even if you take all the steps to make your patio the ultimate outdoor entertaining destination, there's one thing that can stand in the way of your guests truly enjoying themselves: bugs. If mosquitoes are crashing the party or flies are swarming around the food you're serving, no one is going to be having the experience you were hoping to create. You may have heard some things about USB bug zappers and be wondering whether buying one could be the answer you've been searching for.

Before we get too deep into whether USB bug zappers are worth the investment, let's take a small step back and review what they are. These devices are battery-operated and rechargeable using a USB cable. This means that you can plug them into a computer, a power box, or even a car charger. Like other bug zappers, they are designed to attract mosquitoes, flies, and other annoying insects. Once the bugs fly into the lighted area, they are met with a strong electrical shock, which kills them instantly. If this sounds too good to be true, you might be surprised by what customer reviews say. Many of the USB bug zappers on the market actually come highly recommended by customers, with many raving about their performance and ability to keep their homes and outdoor spaces free of so many pesky insects.

While not all USB bug zappers are highly rated, you will find several options online that are backed by hundreds, and sometimes even thousands, of positive reviews. Reviewers for these models often share how impressed they are with the performance of the zapper, especially given the relatively compact size of many of these units. As an example, one customer reviewing the Buzbug LED Bug Zapper on Amazon wrote, "This small zapper is a beast. Quick and easy to set up. I have it hung on a garden hook. Attracts a ton of flying insects. For a rather compact size, it gives quite a spark when it lands a target."

Other reviewers comment on how the performance of the zappers enables them to entertain and enjoy their backyards without getting bitten up or being worried about their guests being constantly harassed by flying pests. Here's what another customer shared about her experiences with a bug zapper purchased from Amazon: "Bought this bug zapper for our backyard, and it works like a charm! It zaps mosquitoes and flies fast, and the battery lasts a long time between charges. Love that it's rechargeable and doubles as a night light, which is super handy for evenings on the patio."

If you've been wondering if bug zappers will work for stink bugs or other insects that aren't flies or mosquitoes, you might find the answers you've been looking for by reading through some reviews. An Amazon reviewer of the Palone Electric Bug Zapper, who was starting to feel like he would never find a solution for getting rid of stink bugs that didn't involve physically catching them in soapy water, shared, "FINALLY, I have found an effective method for dealing with stink bugs!"

Whether you're looking for the best fly traps, are dealing with an infestation of mosquitoes in your yard, or want to keep wasps away from your deck or patio, there are a few top options that stand out. The Buzbug LED Bug Zapper, for example, is one of these impressive options. It comes very highly rated by customers, carrying a 4.4-star rating with more than 4,000 reviews. This model uses dual-color LED lights to attract more insects and deliver more efficient results, particularly at night. Once bugs fly into the electric grid, they're killed instantly (within 0.01 seconds). It is suitable for both indoor and outdoor use and can cover up to half an acre (or 2,100 square feet indoors).

The Koosa Bug Zapper is another USB model that you might want to check out. It holds a high, 4.5-star rating, which is based on more than 450 reviews. A few notable features of this model include its runtime of up to 10 hours, the relatively quick 3-to-4-hour recharging time via USB, and the smart light sensor to automatically shut off the light at dawn.

Finally, you might decide that the Palone Electric Bug Zapper is the best fit for your needs. This model offers a slightly different design. Instead of being shaped like a lantern, it is shaped like a rectangle, providing a two-sided coverage area of about 10 inches by 4 inches. You can either hang it using the included chain or rest it on a flat surface to kill bugs that are attracted to the 360 to 400 nanometer wavelength emitted by the LED light.