Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

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tonyironscacti
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Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by tonyironscacti »

I am looking for zapper lights to kill off any mites, mosquitos etc etc, that periodically appear in my seed raising zone in the glasshouse.

Please don't post any alternative recommendations, just helpful replies to my question.

Looking forward to have your help.

Tony.
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Pattock
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by Pattock »

Would you consider it helpful to point out that mites don't fly and mosquitos don't damage plants?

Identifying the pest is the first step, before you decide which method might control it.
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el48tel
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by el48tel »

My daughter works in pest control management. She's also a succulents enthusiast. Would you like her to put you in contact with the guy who looks after your geographical area. Pity I didn't know the question on Saturday when you (and I) were at the Northern Mart.
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tonyironscacti
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by tonyironscacti »

Hi,

Yes, that would be very useful and thank you for your help.

Cheers

Tony.
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el48tel
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by el48tel »

tonyironscacti wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:17 am Hi,

Yes, that would be very useful and thank you for your help.

Cheers

Tony.
Will do. Just checked your website has plenty of contact details. Let me know if they don't contact you.
Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
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Pattock
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by Pattock »

Just a note to any readers of this forum who may have got the impression from this thread that a bug zapper has any place in plant pest control.

Zappers should not be used in any insect control, ever. Even butchers have better fly control devices now. For controlling biting insects outdoors they are worse than useless, they attract the biting insects in large numbers from quite a distance. That makes them appear effective because they are killing huge numbers of insects.

In plant protection they have three main drawbacks;

1) They kill beneficial and harmless insects in huge numbers, Both predators of pests and pollinators will die alongside some of the pests.

2) They lure in insects from outside. They may invite a new pest that had previously not considered invading. They may kill the predators in your garden that were keeping other pests under control outside, allowing those pests to explode in numbers and damage your garden plants. Those pests may then find their way into your greenhouse.

3) Destroying biodiversity. You might as well put a cyanide fogger in the middle of your garden.

Predators are always found in lower numbers than the pests they eat. Unless you introduce farmed predators. The predators also recover from being massacred more slowly than the fast-breeding pests.

In the case of spidermites, the zapper will not affect the pest at all but might eliminate the predators you were not aware were there.

There are better and more specific ways to deal with pests.
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el48tel
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by el48tel »

Pattock
That is exactly why it's important for Tony to have a visit from a professional company who will assess his needs and suggest the appropriate control measures. And you will note an absence of EFK units, chemical agents or biological controls mentioned in my communications above. It's important for a professional grower like Tony to receive professional advice from a company who have a raft of measures available to them and who are aware of current legislation regarding control measures in commercial growing environments.
Endeavouring to grow Aylostera, Echinocereus, Echinopsis, Gymnocalycium, Matucana, Rebutia, and Sulcorebutia. Fallen out of love with Lithops and aggravated by Aeoniums.
Currently being wooed by Haworthia, attempting hybridisation, and enticed by Mesembs.
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by Chris L »

Pattock wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 7:33 pm Just a note to any readers of this forum who may have got the impression from this thread that a bug zapper has any place in plant pest control.
Aren't they UV light bulbs too?
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Pattock
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Re: Recommendations for a Zapper light to deal with flying bugs.

Post by Pattock »

Chris L wrote: Wed Jul 28, 2021 8:46 pm Aren't they UV light bulbs too?
They are UVA, the longest wavelengths and less harmful than UVB and UVC in normal use. Still not a good idea to get close or look at them for too long. Polycarbonate glasses will protect the eyes, especially if you paid for the UV protective coating.

Breathing the aerosol of insect flesh may be more dangerous.
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