Ryobi has come out with a new cordless bug zapper, model P29014BTLVNM, which does its job without the use of chemicals, sprays, heat, or glue.
The Ryobi 18V bug zapper features a metal mesh that zaps bugs with 2,550 volts of electricity. Ryobi says there are no heat emissions, and so it is never hot to the touch.
Ryobi says that their bug zapper provides up to 1-1/2 acres of coverage, which should help provide a more pest-free environment in backyards or while camping or tailgating.
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A removable plastic tray simplifies cleanup. It looks like the bug zapper can be placed on a tabletop or suspended from the included folding strap-style handle.
And, it also has a built-in LED lantern with 3 brightness settings. (We’re checking with Ryobi on the brightness settings.)
Runtime Specs, When Powered with a 2.0Ah Battery
- With UV LED Light: up to 6 hours
- With LED Area Light: up to 16.5 hours
- With Both Lights: up to 4 hours
Price: $99 (tool-only)
ETA: June 2022
Coming soon to Home Depot.
Discussion
This looks like an interesting tool that leverages Ryobi’s 18V cordless power tool and battery system.
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I bought a mosquito device repellant a while back, but I shopped a bit too hastily and later realized it takes proprietary fuel cartridges that it heats up to create a rather small vapor zone.
This seems more convenient, with no consumables other than having to make sure you have a charged battery, which many Ryobi users tend to have plenty of.
Overall, it seems like an interesting product, and I’m wondering what the downsides are.
For anyone who has ever used an electric bug zapper before – I have not – what are your thoughts? Is this something you wish other power tool brands would come out with?
I asked Ryobi what their runtime claims are like, and will update this post once I hear back.
TonyT
How does it attract the bugs? UV light?
Stuart
I assume so – Ryobi’s product images show the same blue-purplish UV hue as traditional electric bug zappers.
Big Richard
My Black Flag cordless comes with a little octenol pad that you insert to attract mosquitos specifically. Neither is super effective, but the combination of light and octenol does seem to help. It is better than nothing.
I also recommend carrying one of the electric zapper rackets, super fun and effective.
Mason M
This is INTERESTING. One of these to keep on the service van would be awesome. If I’m walking up to a unit and it seems like some vespid jerks are flying around I’d set this up near the system and walk away for a few.
fred
My experience with the AC powered ones is that they are great at attracting and killing bugs like moths and flying beetles – but don’t seem to have any impact on mosquitos.
schill
That’s been my experience as well, although that was 40 years ago or more. They were also good at attracting and killing lizards (that wanted the insects that were attracted to the zapper).
fred
I see some new ones sold at Home Depot – claim to include “mosquito attractants”
Stacey Jones
I’ve had bug zappers before. These definitely work, but seem to draw more insects to you and also make noise. Maybe if you had a few positioned in a circle around you, it would draw the insects away…
Brian O
The insects that bite track you by heat, smell, CO2. They don’t follow your UV glow. This sort of device kills good bugs but causes essentially no reduction of mosquitoes or the like. For more info, see https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/do-bug-zappers-work/ .
This makes me trust Ryobi a lot less. You’d think they’d test or at least read research before releasing a product.
John Fal
Your right, everyone I’ve tried kills all the good insects but no mosquitos.
A W
Thanks for the link! I remembered reading about that recently, I just couldn’t place the source.
Scott K
Thanks for the link- I’m a big fan of Wirecutter and was about to see if they had anything to say about zappers. This WAS very interesting until reading their post. Given the amount of research they cited, this is a pretty disappointing product because either Ryobi ignored what is out there or didn’t care to look.
Andrew
This is pretty neat. I remember seeing online where Nebo made something like this year’s ago, but I never really dug into it further in order to prevent my untimely demise at the hand of my wife for buying more tools/gadgets. At best, it likely would have had an integrated rechargeable battery, at worse it was a battery eating pig, buy it still seemed pretty cool, top. Something like this where you can just hot swap a battery would be far more convenient.
Gregg
I once googled why do some people get bit by mosquitoes more than others? And this is what I found out! I fall into this category now I know why.
Research studies indicate that mosquitoes have a favorite blood type that makes them prefer certain people: type O. Why do mosquitoes like type O blood? Evidence shows that type O blood proteins attract hungry mosquitoes more than the other blood serotypes.
These little bloodsuckers will also go after people with type B blood, but not as aggressively as they hunt down folks with type O. Mosquitoes’ least favorite is type A blood, which means if a type A (blood) person is hanging out with type O or B friends, hungry mosquitoes may aim right for them and skip the type A people entirely.
John
I’m O neg and never get bit by mosquitos. My wife is AB and gets destroyed by them.
Gregg
I’m O positive. It’s like dinner for them.
Mick
I’m curious how a mosquito knows a person’s blood type. I’m A+ and they love me.
A side note to immediately kill the itch, splash hot water (140°) for 2 or 3 seconds. It works every time for me.
Matt the Hoople
It’s listed on my dog tags. That why I always make sure they are inside my shirt collar so the mosquitos can’t read them.
Jerry
Have a bug zapper. I’d agree with the above that they don’t wipe out mosquitos. In the evening or at night they do tend to head towards the light somewhat, but its not like they abandon biting people to head to it. It seems to have a small impact at most for mosquitos. What a zapper does wonders on, at least for me, are the biting gnats and those little tiny annoying in your face bugs that seem like they can fit through a window screen and fly in little swarms. I don’t think the gnats suck blood, but their bites do have a sting.
Kudos to Ryobi for continuing using to offer a hugely wide variety of cordless products. I see this as much as something to put in your tent to eliminate the bugs that sneak inside with you as it is cordless, doesn’t get hot or put out heat, and has a dimmable light. We have a yard sized bug zapper and the Ryobi looms way too small to clear a yard, but for bugs that sneak inside a tent or cabin, it could be just the thing. Oh, it even has a bug.collection cup, which makes me think ‘inside use’ as our bug zapper in the backyard will have a pile of dead bugs under it in the morning. I live on a farm and we have a couple dozen chickens who consider the ground under the bug zapper to be a breakfast spot.
JoeM
Y’know… at first, I had to squint to see if this was a real thing that ToolGuyd was posting? And then I saw “Ryobi” and it clicked that it was legit. Ryobi does a lot of home-oriented stuff that construction and specialist companies don’t. So a little bug zapper like this makes a lot of sense.
I keep seeing you guys talk about mosquitos. And you’re right, this won’t draw in the swarms of those we all get in the summer. But just as dangerous, if not more dangerous, are things like Deer Flies, Ticks, Moths, and Beetles. It would be nice to not include Bees in that list, because we all know that there’s a severe global climate change issue that is killing off the primary polinator of our food supplies… but unfortunately, what draws in Deer Flies, Ticks, Moths, and Beetles, can also draw in Bees and Hornets. But I digress. Up North in Canada here, the pest we hate most is more likely to be the Muskoka Deer Fly, or the Paper Moth. They would both be drawn in by the UV, and die off with the zap. But we don’t like those species for camping, or outdoors get-togethers for one really simple reason. They wreck everything. The Muskoka Deer Fly (Named because the ones who feed well enough to get genuinely big, as in 3″ long in the body big, are found in the Muskoka region of Ontario. “Cottage Country” for rich folks. They’re the same species as everywhere else in the southernmost parts of Canada, but they’ve been able to grow huge further North.) is a big pest (literally) because they don’t swarm, they run head-on into things, and have enough mass to break things without going splat. They also carry the odd disease, and they bite like you’ve been kicked by a mule. This device would put a dent in their population. The only things immune to them are some of the larger Spiders we have (I may be an Arachnophobe, but I love Arachnids as well, because they genuinely have reduced the populations of these major pests.) and Brown Bats. (Don’t get me started, I love Bats, they’re insanely cute up close. If you can catch one and hold it in your hand, they’ll let you pet them… I have broken into tears from the cuteness before, and I’m not exaggerating.)
As to Paper Moths… Tiny little Moths that eat all kinds of fibrous material… Cotton, Nylon, Polyester… They put holes in everything. If you have an awning, tent, or portable rain covering of some sort (including umbrellas in this.) these things compromise the entire “Waterproof” aspect you use it for. So zap away! Their only enemy is the Brown Bat again (See? See my Love of the little furry creatures?) and they are nocturnal, so they won’t save the day during the actual… y’know… Daylight hours.
One thing I will say about Mosquitos is this… UV light, cast on surfaces, especially black ones, can, and do, draw Mosquitoes to the surfaces they hit. UV light can raise the ambient temperature of light-absorbing materials, which creates a decoy for them to go after, instead of you. I don’t know if Science has tested it, I’ve just observed it myself. UV bug zappers, and UV lights, have been used by several of my Scout Leaders over the years to trap swarms of the little pests for quick execution. It is quite effective. I don’t know exactly why (that’s right, I said I don’t know!) but it seems to work. Maybe this Ryobi, if you face it at a black curtain away from yourself, you can keep the Mosquitoes over by the curtain, instead of around you? It says in the specs it will cover 1.5 acres around you… so… You’ll maybe feel confident that the mosquitoes will be on the outside of that bubble, and the other bugs will be dead?
I thought this bug zapper was crazy, and made no sense for ToolGuyd, before seeing it was Ryobi, and that this is definitely an expansion of the Ryobi home lineup they offer. And I’m cool with that.
The Ryobi should work pretty well, it’s Ryobi, and it’s meant for the Home instead of the Construction Site. It should do the job well.
SteveP
I’m guessing you mean clothes moths? There is a Peppered Moth, but it’s not know for eating fabric. They love wool but will eat cotton, silk or other natural fibers. Not sure they care for synthetics or GoreTex. People see the moths but it is the larvae that do the damage
Horse/deer flies don’t seem to be a problem at night in Maine – mostly it is mosquitoes or when the blackflies are really thick. So I doubt a UV light would attract many in the daytime
Nathan
It’s a neat idea and I don’t know the lantern part is necessary. When they say UV light I worry about what bands and if it’s tested safe for people. you know UV causes eye and skin damage depending on the band some is worse than others. as opposed to this just being a blue light.
I don’t expect Ryobi to pin point specifics but it would be nice to know.
I also agree they don’t work that well but it’s better than nothing. I’m a fan of spray on stuff or the candles. One thing that does work are these misters that use some combination of chemicals from plants – not citronella it’s extracts from some specific flowers. Pool companies sell these with patio kits and the like – pump tubing and misters. Not directed at the people but directed outward and up. so not like those humidity misters you see.
anyway that system works wonders but yes you pump this stuff out – a portable version of that would be pretty nifty.
Tom
If the reviews are good, I’ll be looking to get one. As someone else mentioned, the electric tennis rackets are fun too.
Years ago I read a review on bug zappers that said the best thing you can do is buy your neighbor one. It attracts the bugs from your yard to their yard.
Ezzy
Pretty genius. I have a plug in zapper that I have to set up on my kitchen table overnight whenever I grill. Too much going in and out and my kitchen ceiling gets covered in bugs. By morning they’re all dead and I put away the zapper.
teicher
I’m in the same camp as others, it would be cool if bug zappers worked the way most people want them to (kill mosquittos and keep most bugs away, not attract them).
For me the best option when you don’t want to spray yourself or clothing is still a Thermacell. Sure its subject to a lot of limitations like range, startup time and wind impact, but it works well enough in most scenarios. The new models are battery powered with USB recharge and the chemical is in a small cartridge rather than moist pads. Too bad a tool company can’t license the tech from them to use with their own battery packs, that could be a good product.
Don Julio
Agreed on the Thermacells. They’re especially effective under patio umbrellas or porch eaves. If it’s windy I don’t use mine since mosquitoes aren’t that active in the wind.
Amy Roth
Friends of mine own 2 of these and they work awesome inside their screen tent when their camping. I would love to get a couple for myself!!
Tom
Why not just put a fan on high,for a mosquito it’s like trying to fly in a hurricane.
Davethetool
Gotta say, this was a unexpected tool coming from Ryobi! The UV bulbs slowly lose their effectiveness and I wonder if Ryobi will sell the replacement bulbs also? I keep two indoor types of zappers in my house 24/7 along with one hanging on the wall in my garage 24/7. The one in the kitchen is on the floor near the sliding door. The other in the living room. Sometimes scares the crap out of me when I here a large “POP” in the middle of a tv show!..lol The indoor ones (available everywhere to order) usually give me a couple of years max and the bulbs burn out. Additional note I have tried a few different replacement bulbs in these with little luck as I believe the buff zappers use cheaper components that just wear out so now I replace the whole unit when the bulbs go out! Last note…I keep the kitchen unit by the sliding door on the floor because they also zap any fleas that may travel indoors and I have seen the flea carcasses in the dumping tray upon examination before dumping.
MM
I’d be very surprised if this device had bulbs, my guess is that it would use UV LEDs. They have been around for many years now so I assume they’re at the point where they are affordable.
Ron R
My folks lived in southern NH and we had a Craftsman bug zapper. The house had a backyard maybe 50 feet deep and then woods after that. They placed the zapper on a pole about 8 feet off the ground at the edge of the woods and would run it most of spring through fall. The mosquitoes were terrible when they first moved in, but over a number of years, the population went way down to the point where it wasn’t a problem, even at dusk. The only negative was the burnt bugs would fall to the ground and attract skunks 🙁 But I can tell you the AC-powered zapper we had was highly effective.
Koko The Talking Ape
Not good. Bug zappers kill pollinator and other beneficial insects and leave mosquitos and biting flies untouched. Also they spray bug fragments into the air, possibly spreading diseases like salmonella.
https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/do-bug-zappers-work/
What to use instead?
– Spray repellent. Picaridin is as effective as DEET, but is nearly odorless and won’t damage plastics.
– Area or spatial repellents. Some use butane cartridges like what Stuart got, but others use rechargeable Li-ion batteries. Stuart says his covered only a small area, but there are models that cover 400 sq ft. (20′ x 20′). They don’t work well in a breeze, but neither do mosquitos. So…
– A fan. Mosquitos are weak fliers, and even a mild breeze will keep them from alighting on you. You want a big fan, though its power or speed doesn’t matter much.
Collin
Utterly useless device. I respect Ryobi for pursuing lifestyle tools but this isn’t a lifestyle tool. This is a just an utter scam. As other commentators have noted, these mosquito zappers have been extensively studied and placebo effect notwithstanding, the zappers are ineffective. They kill mostly good insects and rarely catch mosquitos. I’d rather wear bug spray than run a zapper.
The Thermacell devices that you reference, with their proprietary fuel cartridges, are pricey, sure, but at least they work, and the area they cover isn’t that bad. A mostly mosquito-free dome with a diameter of 15 or 20 feet (depending on the model) is pretty nice. I turn one on when working in the garage at night.
Collin
The smart way to spend $99 on Ryobi tools is not to get this zapper but rather to get a Ryobi wand sprayer and use the sprayer to treat the lawn and garden and trees and shrubs with insecticide.
I use Demand CS but there are plenty of effective mosquito killers that can be safely applied to lawns.
JR
As many have said, not good for mosquitos really, but these kind of things are great for flies. I have a wall mounted-style one hanging in my garage for when flies get in with the trash sometimes. It’s got an 8-hour timer and I flip it on before bed. When I wake up in the morning all the flies are dead and the spiders outside my garage window are full.
SteveP
Might be useful inside a camp where the number of biting bugs is limited, but outdoors this would be nothing more than a placebo and probably attract more bugs than it killed. I wonder how it handles June Bugs?
Samir
So I have a completely different use-case for this than most. Many years ago I bought a small battery operated bug zapper for use when I went to India to visit the in-laws because mosquitos there are like stealth ninjas and will literally wait in the room, ignore the fan, and then get you.
Well, with my little portable zapper, I had at least 80% less bites than normal and heard it go pop in the night. I loved that thing, but so did my in-laws so I gave it to them since it was cheap here in the US to get another one…except they stopped making them!
Now I have yet another trip overseas to some malaria mosquito infested country and again want the security of a zapper by my bedside to zap these pests. The biggest question is how to recharge this guy and if it will fit nicely in a check-in bag and survive the journey?
Stuart
It works with Ryobi 18V One+ batteries.