Mosquito Magnet low catches

What to do when the catches of your Mosquito Magnet are low? Follow some simple tips or check if your situation is not suitable for the use of carbon dioxide mosquito traps.

Mosquito Magnet traps interrupt the life cycle of mosquitoes in the area in which they operate. From the moment you turn it on, you should notice a reduction in mosquitoes in 7/10 days. After 4/6 weeks of continuous use the local population should decrease further. After this period you should start to see a reduction in mosquito catches.

If this doesn't happen or your Mosquito Magnet doesn't catch enough mosquitoes, you can try following these simple suggestions.

Check the placement

Positioning Mosquito Magnet correctly is essential to collect numerous catches. Mosquito Magnet must be placed at least 10 meters away from the area you want to protect. In case of wind you should place it on the part of the garden where it blows mainly. In this article you can find more information on how to place Mosquito Magnet.

Check the suction

If there is not enough suction, the trap is not able to suck the mosquitoes into the container (basket or net). However, consider that the suction is calibrated to suck up mosquitoes and not harmless insects such as bees. To check if your appliance produces a sufficient draft, take a piece of toilet paper about half a centimeter long. Place the small piece of paper right under the trumpet-shaped part. By releasing the card it should be sucked into the trap.

If this does not happen here is a list of possible factors that determine a poor suction.

Something obstructs the passage of air: if something obstructs the passage of air there is a reduction in suction. Check the intake horn opening, fan, and vents. Make sure they are free from insects and small animals, cobwebs and other debris.

The fan turns slowly or is stopped: On some models (Independence and Executive), if the outside temperature drops below 10°C they stop working. At these temperatures the mosquitoes are not active in fact. If this happens the fan spins very slowly. If the fan is damaged or the thermoelectric generator (cordless models) is faulty there may not be enough power to drive the fan.

Cracks and Drafts: If cracks form in the path that determines the airflow, there may be a reduction in suction. Double check that the doors are closed and that the seals are not damaged. Make sure there are no cracks, tears or damage to the plastics that can cause loss of internal pressure when vacuuming.

Clogged nets or baskets: Check that the collection basket or net is not too full of mosquitoes. Also check that they are clean, without tears and without accumulations of pollen. If so, you can wash them with mild soap and water. If too worn they can be replaced by purchasing spare parts. In case of large catches where they have to be emptied several times a month it may be necessary to replace them more often.

Other factors

Does the trap emit enough carbon dioxide? Inside the head of the appliance there is a second small fan, if this turns slowly or is stopped, the amount of CO2 emitted by the appliance is reduced.

Is carbon dioxide emitted at the right temperature?

Mosquito Magnet emits carbon dioxide approximately at the temperature of human breath. To check if the temperature is correct, put your hand under the black emission tube and feel if the perceived temperature is the same as when you breathe hard on it.

Catches used to be high and are now declining: The first thing to ask yourself when trying to spot any catch problems is “Am I still bitten by mosquitoes?”. If you have caught a lot of mosquitoes and the amount of insects in the area has decreased, it could mean that the life cycle of the mosquitoes has been disrupted. Only female mosquitoes (those that bite) are attracted to Mosquito Magnet.

When Mosquito Magnet doesn't work

There are some situations that could determine the ineffectiveness of Mosquito Magnet or its limited benefits.

Rice Mosquitoes: Rice mosquitoes can travel tens of kilometers to consume a blood meal. If you are a victim of this species of insects, you could be stung by specimens born a great distance from your garden. It is therefore impossible for any local control method to interrupt the life cycle of these insects.

Use of insecticides: All insecticides are also repellents. When disinfestation operations are carried out, make sure that the sprayed products remain a few meters away from the appliance. not sprUse insecticides on the appliance to kill mosquitoes flying around before they are vacuumed.

Essences liked by mosquitoes: Use the right essences to increase catches. Lurex for tiger mosquitoes, Octenol for common mosquitoes.

Preventive activity: start using Mosquito Magnet when mosquitoes begin to reproduce, i.e. from the end of March onwards. Interrupting the life cycle of mosquitoes when the season is too late and many generations of mosquitoes have reproduced without any conflict may not bring the expected benefits.

Wind: If the area to be protected is particularly windy and the wind often changes direction, the CO2 cloud does not spread properly or is dispersed before it can be perceived by mosquitoes.

Carelessness of the appliance: it is very important to carry out cleaning operations with the CO2 cartridges. The combustion of the gas could create encrustations that modify the functioning making the emissions of the Mosquito Magnet less similar to those of a human being.

Unsuitable context: neighbors indifferent to waterlogging or neglect of breeding grounds in their own garden do not help the work of Mosquito Magnet. On the one hand the reproduction cycle of the mosquitoes is interrupted but on the other they breed. Gardens that are too small are not immune to neighborhood neglect.

Tell me if you have found any reasons for success or failure in the use of your Mosquito Magnet in order to complete this list.