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Bugs don’t wait for an invitation. Whether it’s fruit flies in the kitchen, gnats around your plants or mosquitoes buzzing around your bed, the right trap can make all the difference. The good news? You don’t need a complicated setup or harsh chemicals to reclaim your space. This round-up of the best bug traps on Amazon actually works, so you can tackle the problem fast and get back to living bug-free.
What Is a Bug Trap and Why Does It Work?
A bug trap is a simple but effective device designed to lure and capture insects like flies, mosquitoes, gnats and fruit flies. Some trap cockroaches and even mice. Most traps work by attracting bugs using light, scent, heat or sticky surfaces, then preventing the critters from escaping once they enter or make contact. Depending on the type of trap, it might use UV light, carbon dioxide, pheromones or sweet bait to draw pests in.
Bug traps work so well because of insect behavior. Many bugs are hardwired to follow specific cues — mosquitoes seek out carbon dioxide and body heat, while fruit flies go straight to fermenting sugars. Bug traps exploit these tendencies without needing sprays or poisons, which makes them a solid option for homes with pets or kids.
One study found UV-baited traps more efficient in catching midges than CO2-baited ones, while another determined that specific wavelengths attract various mosquito species. With constant studies into bugs and how to better catch and eliminate them, newer traps and insect solutions constantly hit the market. While no trap can ensure a bug-free zone, the right one can dramatically reduce your pest problem.
Alternatively, follow an integrated pest management approach, using beneficial animals and insects to help you manage pesky ones, such as fostering a bat box so they can catch over 1,000 mosquitoes per hour.
12 Best Bug Traps for a Pest-Free Property
Ready to add some bug-busting traps to your cart? Before you decide on the best bug traps for your home, consider what kind of bugs you get in your home. Do you have children and pets? These things will impact what kind of bug trap you choose to use.
These are the best traps from each type — ranked from most humane to least — for your home.
Humane Plug-In Flying Insect Traps
These traps connect to your home electrical outlets. You should plug them into a power outlet that’s not near your seating or sleeping area, as the trap first attracts then captures insects. Common gains are that they’re like a siren’s call for flying bugs, effectively capturing and killing them. The main caveat is that they require refill cartridges, which means continuous costs, and they’re not the cheapest type on the market. The top three are:
1. Zevo Flying Insect Traps
The discreet plug-ins are easy to install, effective, and require minimal cleanup to remove bugs. The blue light attracts insects, which then get stuck on the adhesive pad mounted to the device. With the sticky side facing the wall behind a curved shield, you don’t have to see the insects once they’re stuck.
2. VeyoFly Fly Trap Indoor
Using the same principles as Zevo’s trap, this option is more economical but slightly less stylish. The black option is a great solution for home offices or out-of-the-way corners, where it’s more discreet. The sticky card also faces the wall, so you don’t have to see bugs piling up.
3. Safer Home Indoor Plug-In Fly Trap
If you want a plug-in solution without the heavy price tag, this is a more generic option that still offers excellent bug attraction and incarceration. The device comes with two cards, which have adhesive on the back. It provides an impressive 400 square feet of coverage, and at the price, you can afford to install several handy zappers.
Humane Electric Bug Traps
Electric traps require power and usually kill the insects with electrical shocks or a sticky panel. They may use sticky cards, but they typically fry bugs. The downside is that bugs may produce a slight smell and popping sound as they get incinerated. These traps may also zap beneficial bugs like ladybugs that eat pesky aphids from your flowers and plants, so killing these isn’t advisable — but switching off your bug zapper during daytime is one way to protect your bright red friends.
4. FVQAI Fly Traps
For a more powerful solution, this handy bug hotel comes with a neon sign — well, a UV light — and a powerful suction to pull flying bugs into the base where they get stuck to the glue card. Each device comes with 10 glue cards. The handy timer also means the device doesn’t run needlessly.
5. GOOTOP Bug Zapper
Bug zappers use UV light to draw insects closer and then zap them using exposed electrical elements. It’s quick and efficient. The outer cage keeps pets and kids away from the elements, while the base catches most of the crisped critters when they drop. With coverage of half an acre, it’s a great outdoor option.
6. Buzbug LED Bug Zapper Indoor
This electric bug zapper comes in silver and black, with dual color elements to better attract pests. The high-efficiency LED lights also reduce power usage for an economical solution. The protective grid ensures kids and pets are safe, and the fried bugs simply fall away. The LED lamp comes with a 10-year warranty for excellent service.
Less-Humane Sticky Traps
Glue traps are pesticide-free solutions. The insects get stuck and die from lack of food or water. If you place traps carelessly, they can also entrap small birds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
7. Foofol Fruit Fly Traps
Fruit flies and gnats are irritating around your plants or near moist areas where these micro bugs congregate. The patterned sticky cards are odorless and economical to use. They come with a handy stake pattern, so they anchor easily — just replace when needed.
8. BugBane Fly Stick Sticky Trap
Attract and detain flying insects with this sticky cut-away stand. It can be placed on a table or hung under trees for excellent, pesticide-free pest solutions. The glue is non-toxic and chemical-free for safer kid and pet homes. The dish bottom is ideal to add your own bait to attract even more bugs.
9. Catchmaster Fly Ribbon
For a tried-and-trusted solution, fly ribbons are a firm favorite, even though they can be messy and a pain to install. It’s highly satisfying to see flies take up permanent residence on these sticky ribbons, and because they are so cheap, you can replace them frequently.
A neat trick is to leave the ribbon holder in the sun for a few minutes before installing. This softens the sticky adhesive slightly. When you open it, hold the top and gently twist the holder as you slowly pull the ribbon out.
Lethal Glue and Bag Traps
While these traps are more enclosed than open glue traps, they aren’t considered kind to larger prey like mice, which is why larger glue traps are being banned in some states — check if you can legally use these before ordering. It’s advisable to patrol the traps twice daily to ensure no harmless animals, such as geckos and lizards, get stuck. If you catch larger prey, you should release them or humanely kill and dispose of them, so they don’t suffer. Glue traps are an ideal solution to bed bugs, when strategically placed, but ensure your sheets don’t end up stuck to them.
10. Catchmaster Max-Catch Mouse and Insect Glue Trap
Who knew that mice can also become pests and that you could catch them with a glue trap? While this won’t appeal to you if you’re environmentally conscious, it’s an effective way to handle smaller rodent species, cockroaches and other pests. Simply pull off the covering sheet and fold the trap into shape. Position it in an out-of-the-way area where pests frequently bother you. Fold it shut and dispose of when the cardboard “motel” is occupied.
11. Catchmaster Glue Traps
Moving into the nuclear arsenal of traps, large-scale glue traps are an effective solution to mice and pests, but they should be deployed carefully and policed responsibly. Animals that get stuck in these sticky trays may suffer for days, and you should always ensure the tray is placed where other animals and beneficial bugs aren’t going to get stuck.
12. Rescue! Outdoor Disposable Hanging Fly Trap
Hanging fly traps work on the basic principle of baiting a bag which lets flies in but stops them from crawling out. Once the bag is loaded, simply dispose of it. It should be noted that these are highly effective traps, but they also come with a smell element once the trap is truly “ripe” with a few hundred flies. So hang them further away from your home to draw flies out of reach of your nose.
FAQ
Do Bug Traps Really Work?
They do when used consistently and placed correctly. Traps using light, heat or scent can attract and capture flying pests. While they may not eliminate every insect, they’re great at reducing overall populations indoors and in small outdoor areas.
Where Is the Best Place to Put a Bug Trap?
It depends on the type of trap. Fruit fly traps work best near sinks, trash cans or fruit bowls. Mosquito or gnat traps are more effective in dark, humid corners or near houseplants. Avoid placing traps too close to where people hang out, especially if they use bait.
Are Bug Traps Safe Around Pets and Kids?
Most passive bug traps, such as sticky boards or light traps, are totally safe around children and pets. Just skip anything with toxic bait or exposed electrical elements. Always double-check product labels and keep traps out of reach when possible — especially the sticky kind that curious paws might find interesting.
Bug Trap Truths
Bug traps may not replace every pest control method, but are a reliable first line of defense. The right trap can bring quick, low-effort relief, whether you’re dealing with a sudden swarm or a slow buildup. It’s easier than ever to keep bugs out without using harsh chemicals.
About The Author
Peter is an associate editor for Renovated. He has expertise in real estate and home improvement. When Peter has down time, you'll find him out on a hike, petting a dog, or working in his garden.
