Zapping bugs with stationary electric devices has been a popular pest control measures for decades. If passive bug zappers aren't enough for you, you may want to opt for active bug hunting with one of the new zapping rackets. They're affordable and can actually be fun to use, making you put to use your skills and improving your eye-hand coordination.
They may look daunting at first. In fact, if you've never seen anyone use an electric fly swatter before, you may wonder just how is this odd looking tennis racket going to do its job? In the old days, rubber swatters would swish through the air and all the way to the wall, or even the table, squishing the poor bug into oblivion with the sheer force of the blow. Swish and bang and you're done... well, except for the cleaning part.
With the new electric rackets, you can't simply swat it on a hard surface like that. Bang it into the wall or unto the table too many times, and you're likely to quickly ruin the electric circuits, or even smash the plastic frame. Then again, can you really take a fly in mid-air, while it is flying around in circles, or more likely arbitrarily around the room? I know some people who can, but they really are the chosen few. For the rest of us mere mortals, it takes a technique and some preparations. Let me share my own bug zapping tips and tricks with you here.
Technique is everything here. Wait for the bug to land on a spot and carefully note its location. Slowly bring your electric swatter, placing it so that it rests on its side with the frame leaning on the surface. The net should be facing the bug, about 10 inches away. If, for example, there is a fly sitting on your table, let your racket touch the surface of the table with its plastic frame, standing vertically.
Hold down the switch, so that the light is on and the net becomes electrocuted. Now, quickly move your racket along the surface in the direction of the fly. The fly will try to get away by flying upwards, but if you're quick enough, your electric net will be sweeping over it, catching it at about 1-3 inches above the surface. The key here is to keep your racket touching the surface with the frame the whole time, for extra stability. That way, you bring the net in, sifting through the area above the bug's landing point. It works like a charm, and takes very little skill to perform.
As with everything, this technique does take some practicing. It is still much easier than trying to get the fly while it is flying around the room. What you do need it to have the bug on a flat surface, either vertical or horizontal, so that you can move the racket along that surface towards the bug. The support generated by the surface ensures a steady swift blow. If your adversary happens to be sitting at a less accessible spot, just wave around and let for it to land at an appropriate spot.
One more tip: if you can, try to chill the room for a bit before you start hunting. Insects thrive in warmth. Make the room cooler, and they are likely to become slow and sluggish, and you get the advantage.
Happy hunting everyone!
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Need an electric zapper racket? Check out my blog for the Best Electric Fly Swatter on the market. My site is full of more pest control information, with various guides: http://www.pest-control-hub.com
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