DynaTrap Reviews [2023]: 3-Way Mosquito and Insect Traps - MosquitoReviews (2023)

Because they don't use propane, there are no cylinders to buy and change, and best of all, there are no maintenance issues with clogged lines or propane running out - problems that plague many other traps. You still need to plug it in, so you'll need an outside outlet and an extension cord if you plan to hang the trap more than 7-10 feet from the outlet.

The Dynatrap DT2000XL is designed to attract mosquitoes with a range of up to an acre - probably an overstatement, but it's still more powerful than the smaller model.
See reviews.

The DT2000XL model is more expensive than the DT1000 model, but it's larger, with a more powerful fan and bright light, and can attract insects from a greater distance, with up to an acre of coverage for the DT2000XL and half an acre for the DT1000 to the manufacturer.

If you've decided not to buy a propane mosquito trap, this is the next best thing. I will list the pros and cons of the two models together because they are similar.

Dynatrap-Profis

• Its initial cost is cheaper than propane gas traps.
• It doesn't require the hassle and expense of replacing propane tanks.
• It catches other insects besides mosquitoes, although that's not always a good thing when it comes to useful ones.
• You can use it indoors or outdoors.
• The only noise is the low hum of the fan and there is no smell.
• It is safe for pets, children and the environment as it does not use insecticides.

Disadvantages of Dynatrap

• The big deal: It doesn't necessarily specifically kill mosquitoes, so you can get more moths or other stuff instead.
• You need to mount it about 5 to 6 feet off the ground. One model, the DT1200, comes with its own hanger, but otherwise requires a branch, post, wall, fence, etc. to hang or sit on.
• If you use it outdoors, it may need a rain cover to prevent water from getting into the collection area.
• It requires an outlet 7-10 feet away or an extension cord.
• Difficult to empty without some bugs escaping.
• Claiming that it emits an effective amount of CO₂was questioned.
• Like all traps, it needs to be placed in a good spot, shady and protected, where mosquitoes can find it but not where they will bother you.

How it works

The lights at the top of the trap emit heat and UV rays that attract mosquitoes and other insects, especially moths at night. There are openings under the lights that allow insects to fly in. Once inside, the fan's air currents suck them into the holding cage below, where they are unable to escape and die within a day.

Unfortunately, light and heat are just two of the things that attract mosquitoes, since they're mainly looking for people to bite them. Carbon dioxide is what they're really looking for, since we and other animals give it off when we exhale. Mosquitoes know that if they follow this contrail, there will be a tasty animal at the other end, ready to be bitten.

To generate carbon dioxide, the Dynatrap uses a wide type of funnel coated with titanium dioxide (TiO2) over the fan. The manufacturer claims that when the ultraviolet light reacts with the TiO2, "a photocatalytic reaction occurs that produces carbon dioxide." This is the process it uses instead of burning propane like other traps.

However, when the University of Wisconsin tried to measure the amount of carbon dioxide emitted, they foundreportedthat they found none at all. One reviewer pointed out that in order for the process to produce carbon dioxide, the TiO2 surface would need to be coated with a carbon source such as dust or dead bugs. See the reviewHere(scroll down for comment by Dr. Marsteller). The reviewer also commented that the fan would suck in and disperse the carbon dioxide. Actually that sounds like an advantage as it would send signals to more distant mosquitoes and they would follow the contrail to its source. The source would be where the air exits, not up by the vents, but it would still be nearby. The big question, however, is whether the trap produces enough CO2 at all or to make a difference.

The claim that a combination of TiO2 and ultraviolet light produces carbon dioxide is legitimate, as someair cleanerbased on the idea. They use it to remove organic pollutants from the air and its function has been tested. Their source of carbon is dust and pollutants, which they convert to carbon dioxide, so a mosquito trap hung outdoors may be attracting enough organic dust from the air to work. If the University of Wisconsin tested the trap in a very clean environment, that could explain the total lack of CO2 emissions. But even with a carbon source, there is still no certainty that it will be producedenoughCarbon dioxide perceptible even to mosquitoes.

It works?

But the main question is, does it work to catch mosquitoes? I have a friend who uses two of the DT1000 traps in her large garden and she reports that they definitely catch moths and wasps and they also catch mosquitoes, although not as many as she would like. The catch rate improved when she moved one of them in front of a shady hedge where mosquitoes liked to hang out, but the numbers of mosquitoes were still fewer than the numbers of other bugs. As aInsect-catcher, it works especially well after dark and is a much less annoying alternative to a bug zapper light. In fact, Dynatrap markets it as an alternative to zapper lights with the slogan "Stop zapping, start trapping".

But if you want it specifically as a mosquito repellent, your results may vary.

Not just mosquitoes

When moths and other insects are attracted, all are carriedDiseasesand bite like gnats, a trap catching them all would be great. Unfortunately, the trapped moths are relatively harmless to pets and humans, and other insects can even be beneficial.

However, the caterpillars that produce moths can cause a lot of damage to gardens and agricultural crops. So if you have a garden, catching moths can still be an added benefit. Unfortunately, some of the most destructive ones are like thateuropean gypsy moth,do not fly at night and are not particularly attracted to lights.

Some garden pests thatAreAccording to the IFAS Extension of the University of Florida, adult corn borers, cabbage loopers and cutworms are among those attracted to ultraviolet light. They say several mosquitoes are also attracted to light, but some of themAedesUnfortunately, mosquitoes are notAedes albopictus,the Asian tiger mosquito. So to attract and kill them, a trap must rely more heavily on CO2 or other attractants, which is possibly the weakness of the Dynatrap models and why some people report better success than others at catching mosquitoes.

If you don't want larger moths or butterflies to get trapped in it, one suggestion is to put a piece of coarse mesh over the openings so only mosquitoes and smaller bugs can get in. To increase mosquito attractiveness, some people also add octenol or other attractants to the trap container.

maintenance

The bug bin may need to be cleaned once a week. You unscrew it and throw out the dead bugs, but the tricky part is that there will be some recently caught live bugs in there too. The company includes velcro that allows you to cover the bin so that when you turn off the fan the bugs don't fly out and they die within a day and then you can dispose of it all.

The bulbs need to be replaced when they burn out, maybe once every 3-4 months, although occasionally they burn out sooner. They arenot very cheapespecially if they burn out quickly, but still a lot cheaper than propane and bait if they last for several months.

That being said, the main maintenance is clearing the bug slime from the funnel area where they get into the trap, which is pretty gross but not too bad.

Dynatrap TD2000XLis the heavy-duty version of this trap style

This heavy duty version of the Dynatrap insect trap has brighter bulbs that are said to last longer (6 months), but stillare not cheap, a more powerful fan and a particularly useful gadget, a damper that automatically traps any live insects when you turn off the fan so they can't escape. The manufacturer says it will attract bugs from up to 30 feet if placed in an ideal spot where it's shaded from other lights and the bugs can see its light from afar.

You can use it indoors or outdoors. It comes with a 7ft cord, but if that's not long enough you'll need an extension cord marked 'W-A' and marked as suitable for outdoor use. If you would like to take a look at the manual, here is a link to it in a PDF file:Dynatrap DT2000XL manual.

Reviews:

Dynatrap DT1000is smaller, lighter, works on the same principle

The DT1000 model is smaller and lighter than the other, with a less powerful fan. It's about a foot tall and 10" in diameter and weighs 3 1/2 pounds. The manufacturer rates it for a range of 1/2 acre, although that may be optimistic. The two UV bulbs aren't as bright as the other model either, and are said to last four months, although they can sometimes burn out much sooner.

Otherwise, the trap works on the same principle as the larger model, but only attracts insects from a smaller area. You can use it indoors or outdoors.

Here is a link to the manual as a pdf file:Dynatrap DT1000 manual.

Reviews:

Other reviews of mosquito traps

Check out our reviews of some other popular mosquito traps to see how they stack up:

• MegaFang Ultra
• Moskito-Magnet