What Type of Blacklight to Use for Attracting Insects?

Light Traps

A variety of companies make light trap devices that rely on ultraviolet and near ultraviolet light to attract and kill insects. These come in many different sizes and are usually hung in areas near doorways and other passageways to attract insects on their way in or out of a room or house. These lights operate on higher voltage than other blacklights and are designed so that insects are killed, or zapped, when they touch the bulb. Blacklight bug traps have protective grills or screens so that humans and pets do not accidentally get zapped.

Blacklight tubes, the kind used to make the velvet paintings and white colors glow brightly in discos and lounges, are also effective at attracting insects. For those who don't want to kill bugs but want to attract them, these types of blacklights are optimal. They come in a variety of different sizes and can be mounted in standard fluorescent lighting sockets.

To attract and capture a lot of insects using blacklights and several household items, use a strategy called "Bug Lighting." Bug lighting entails hanging large white sheets up with clothespins and back lighting them with a blacklight. This should be done in an outside location like a back porch or yard and at nighttime. The bugs will gather on the lit up sheets and are easy to observe by the whole family and can be scooped up and captured by insect collectors.

Blacklight bulbs, which fit into and work in most regular light sockets, will also attract bugs. You can also set up homemade bug traps and with blacklight bulbs at home. To do this, simply hang a blacklight bulb over a bucket that has a funnel placed in its opening. The black light attracts the insects, who after bumping into the light and getting burned, fall down into the funnel and through its hole, getting trapped in the bucket beneath.