I'm currently using a Dynatrap indoors for mosquitos. It has proven to be marginally effective. If there are a bunch of mosquitoes around, it will vacuum some of them up eventually. This is basically the best that can be done indoors without having nets or applying repellent chemicals directly to your skin. It's provably better than nothing, though not much.
Now I'm going to get some actual bug zappers, once again for indoor use. Because of warm winter, I'm expecting this year to see massive amounts of flying bugs outside. Some will get inside. So I need some indoor traps. Indoors I don't care if I zap a few "beneficial pollenating insects." They should not be inside. I agree that such traps should only be used outdoors on a very limited basis so as to not interfere much with beneficial insects. It is claimed these can catch mosquitoes too, but I'd expect even less performance than the Dynatrap which was specifically designed to catch mosquitoes.
Now the question is, what about the blue bulbs in these lights. Are they harmful?
The answer appears to be no, or at least not much. Prudence suggests not staring at or remaining in close proximity to such a light for very long. But since they produce mostly UVA, and not at huge quantities either, they are not likely to be harmful from casual exposure.
Here's a relevant article which addresses the question about black lights and the blue lights in bug zappers.
It's UVB lights, sometimes used in tanning salons and germ killers, that are more dangerous. UVA is longer than 315 nm. UVB is less than 315 nm.
UVB bulbs are considerably more expensive, and potentially unsafe, so it's doubtful they are used in black lights or bug zappers. A typical wavelength from UVB bulb is 295nm.
Now I'm going to get some actual bug zappers, once again for indoor use. Because of warm winter, I'm expecting this year to see massive amounts of flying bugs outside. Some will get inside. So I need some indoor traps. Indoors I don't care if I zap a few "beneficial pollenating insects." They should not be inside. I agree that such traps should only be used outdoors on a very limited basis so as to not interfere much with beneficial insects. It is claimed these can catch mosquitoes too, but I'd expect even less performance than the Dynatrap which was specifically designed to catch mosquitoes.
Now the question is, what about the blue bulbs in these lights. Are they harmful?
The answer appears to be no, or at least not much. Prudence suggests not staring at or remaining in close proximity to such a light for very long. But since they produce mostly UVA, and not at huge quantities either, they are not likely to be harmful from casual exposure.
Here's a relevant article which addresses the question about black lights and the blue lights in bug zappers.
It's UVB lights, sometimes used in tanning salons and germ killers, that are more dangerous. UVA is longer than 315 nm. UVB is less than 315 nm.
UVB bulbs are considerably more expensive, and potentially unsafe, so it's doubtful they are used in black lights or bug zappers. A typical wavelength from UVB bulb is 295nm.
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