7 Best Indoor Bug Traps, Including One That Saved My Kitchen

Oct 19, 2024

These bugs aren't paying rent, it's time for them to go!

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Even though we're officially in the midst of fall weather, some things try to stick around even when they're unwanted. I'm talking about this pesky mosquitoes. From the constant buzzing to the annoying bites, mosquitoes are the biggest nuisance to deal with. Not to mention all the other pests like gnats, fruit flies, and house flies that come along with them.

But what's even worse is when they invade our homes! Of course, the best way to get rid of mosquitoes is to prevent them altogether, but it's still helpful to have some tips and tricks when it comes to the indoors. I talked with Emma Grace Crumbley, an Entomologist at Mosquito Squad, who said the biggest things bringing bugs inside and keeping them there are "Food debris, water, moisture, and shelter." Once you tackle those issues, grabbing an indoor trap or two is really going to seal the deal. The good news is that nowadays there are plenty of safe ways to eliminate those pesky flying insects, both indoors and outdoors.

More ways to keep the pests at bay:

One look at the "after" photos offered by satisfied reviewers of this nifty trap, and you'll be sold. (And also maybe scarred for life.) With more than 50,000 five-star ratings, this UV-based killer claims to work by luring mosquitoes in with light, sucking them in with a quiet fan, and then trapping them, along with gnats and fruit flies, on sticky glue boards. Still, the manufacturer says that it's less effective when it comes to larger house flies, so take that into consideration.

It comes with 4 glue boards, but eventually you'll need to order more. Similar to the DynaTrap model, this unit will also eliminate any annoying zapping noises you may have experienced with other traps.

Positive review: "The Katchy Indoor Insect Trap is a game changer! I have struggled with mosquitos, gnats, and fruit flies in my home for years, and this product has finally provided relief. The non-zapper design is safe and effective, and the attractive design fits seamlessly into my home decor. I love the UV light feature that attracts the insects, and the fan that sucks them into the trap."

This is my personal favorite trap for indoors and is what actually made a difference in my house. The Zevo trap is a bestseller at most retail stores and on Amazon.

This insect trap plugs into a wall outlet and while it uses UV lights to get the bug's attention, it's not an electric zapper. Instead, Zevo comes with a sticky cartridge that slides right on the back. It mainly traps and kills fruit flies and house flies, however, it's known to catch a few mosquitos in my house as well! I just plug it into my wall and a few days later I'm always shocked to see how many bugs are trapped! There's also a Zevo Max that's double-sided for some serious bug catchin'. I keep a Max next to my trash can and it really seals the deal.

Plug it into an outlet where you see the most activity like a fruit bowl or near a trash can. You can also buy cartridge refills for a good price so you never run out!

The Zevo Flying Insect Trap sticky pad after a few days of use.

This contraption's manufacturer claims it's the strongest zapper on the market "by far." And it's not just the manufacturer—take it from over 2,000 5-star reviews, too. If mosquitoes are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to your pest problems, you'll be glad to know this one catches all flying insects.

Unlike some of the other traps on this list that utilize fans and sticky pads to trap bugs, this zapper uses electricity, so you'll definitely hear those pests going to their final resting place. If the noise doesn't bother you, then this is one of the best options on the list for open-concept homes and large houses.

Positive review: "No playin around here. From the moment I plugged it in weeks ago and set it in the window of my office, it has been killing these bugs with prejudice. Like every 3-5 minutes sometimes, you just hear a 'CRACK' and that's another dead bug."

Upgrade your flimsy fly swatter with this electric one. With 3,000 volts, this Bug Zapper has the power to kill bugs instantly so you're not chasing them around the house.

While you can use it like a racquet, you can also leave it on a stand and watch as pesky critters fly straight into it. And with three different layers of mesh, it keeps even the smalls of fruit flies and gnats from flying through. You can plug this device in and have some extra peace of mind knowing it's still killing bugs while it charges.

While the most pricey on our list, DynaTrap's half-acre mosquito trap offers some great features for the money. A warm UV light interacts with the coating to emit CO2, mimicking breath to lure the blood-sucking pests. A quiet fan sucks them into a receptacle, which you can easily twist off and dump when full. Plus, the durable all-weather construction of this model is perfect for both indoor and outdoor use.

The replaceable bulb lasts about 4 months—long enough to get you through the season. It also traps flies, wasps, gnats, and other flying insects. Since this trap essentially works to suck the pests inside the unit, you won't have to worry about the annoying zapping sound common on other traps.

Positive review: "I have now had it a month and always amazes me at how many more bugs it traps nightly. Neighbor commented she is not seeing bugs trying to get into her house either. We were standing outside during prime mosquito time and neither one of us had a single bite! It was glorious!!!"

Inserted in potted soil, these sticky traps are designed to catch flying varieties of houseplant pests, like fungus gnats and whiteflies. However, the super-sticky glue will also nab any mosquitoes that land on it (mosquitoes aren't attracted to houseplants per se, but they might be drawn to excess moisture, such as standing water in a drainage dish).

Our go-to trick for using these is to place them next to a cup filled with a sweet beverage—even just a glass of sugar water will do. Mosquitoes are attracted to sugar, so they'll fly right to it. You can also place these traps near a nightlight, or in a garbage can or near a bowl of fruit to nab fruit flies.

Positive review: "This product worked great over night. I placed a couple in various pots before bed and by morning had already caught more than 15 gnats. We recently put our favorite plants in larger pots and I think the new soil either attracted the gnats or already had them inside. But not to worry, these little gems have us covered!"

This sconce-style trap doesn't take up room on your counters—a feature users love. It only covers up to 900 square feet, so you might want to consider purchasing two depending on the size of your home. The mirrored interior multiplies the UV light illumination by up to 3 times, so this guy is small but mighty for sure.

Once the mosquitoes are lured inside, they're trapped on a disposable glue board (6 boards are included, but you'll eventually need more). While this trap might be a bit of an eye-sore, you'll barely hear it at all. Glue boards = no zapping noises. For a different look, it's also available in natural wood.

Positive review: "Flies will make a beeline for the trap and dive straight in. Some of them will fly down so fast that they make a literal "thud" when they hit the glue board. It obviously works best at night when it's the only light on in the room, but it will even work in a brightly lit room. After I mounted it to the wall and plugged it in, it had caught half a dozen in a well lit room within the 5 minutes it took me to clean my workspace and put away my tools. Something about the UV makes them go crazy."

The biggest key to getting bugs out of your home is to keep them from coming inside in the first place. However, having a few indoor traps is only going to help get rid of them. While many of our top picks include a UV light to lure bugs in, mosquitos often fly into them by accident, not because they're attracted to the device itself. However, if you keep a trap near hotspots like fruit bowls or the garbage can, you're much more likely to catch a few suckers. Most of these insects don't have great vision and aren't actually the best flyers. That means the second they get close to a trap, they're more than likely going to fall victim.

Unfortunately, a lot of things attract mosquitos. According to Emma Grace Crumbley, an Entomologist at Mosquito Squad, just breathing can alarm a mosquito that you're close."Mosquitoes are adept at detecting subtle chemicals in the air," Crumbley explained. "Carbon dioxide breathed out by living creatures is easily detected by mosquitoes and used to pinpoint a potential host's location. Other molecules, like lactic acid produced by sweat and sulcatone, a chemical present at unique levels in humans relative to other animals, also alert mosquitoes of nearby hosts."But when it comes to them flying inside your home, there are a few things bringing them in. And just like humans, they're looking for three basic needs — food, water, and shelter."

"Food debris left out in the home (crumbs, food on the counter, pet food bowls) and in the yard (fallen fruit from trees, pet food bowls, garbage, and recycling cans) is highly attractive to several nearby pests. Keeping areas inside and outside the home clean and sanitary will reduce the number of pests," Crumbley added.

We don't always notice extra crumbs lying around at the end of the day, but giving your counters and dinner table an extra wipe down is going to make a big difference. And don't forget the garbage can! Instead of throwing old leftovers, meat trimmings, and produce straight into your trash, tie them up in a spare market bag for extra protection and take them straight to your outdoor garbage can.

"All pests need water and moisture to avoid drying out, but mosquitoes require stagnant water sources to lay their eggs in," said Crumbley.

That means extra puddles in the yard can bring them close, but sinks full of dishes and water build up are going to be a sanctuary for mosquitos and flies! Get rid of any access water that's left in or around the sink, especially during the warmer months.

"Shelter describes a place of safety and refuge for pests, whether that is refuge from predators outside, or the intense mid-day heat. Homes can create shady, cool, and sometimes moist retreats for pests to use," added Crumbley.

While we recommend ridding of access food and water like we mentioned above, it's also important to look for any spots that that are literally welcoming them.

"Insect pests enter your house through unobstructed entry points. These could be as large as leaving doors propped open or windows up, or entry points could be small cracks, gaps, and crevices around your home. For mosquitoes, in particular, holes in the screens of screened-in porches, doors, and windows are taken advantage of. The screen mesh lets air flow from your yard to your home, but your scents and skin volatiles travel back to your yard. Mosquitoes can detect these scents and try to enter through the mesh."

After noticing a few flies and mosquitos in my own home recently, I became fixated on making sure there were no crumbs or standing water around my home. It helped, but it wasn't until I noticed a big whole in my mesh screen door that I realized I was basically welcoming these bugs into my house. Needless to say, a combination of some of these basic preventatives can really help get them out, and keep them out.

And adding some indoor traps is only going to speed up the process. We've tested some of our own and found the most recommended traps to keep you bug-free as can be this summer. It's important to note that while some of these units can work both indoors and outdoors, not all of them do. We'd recommend looking into outdoor bug zapper if you're looking for a porch-only solution. There are also plants that repel mosquitoes, so consider adding a few to your garden.

Hannah Jones is the Commerce Editor for Country Living. Her eye is always on the next up-and-coming products to include in gift guides and she's ready to test everything from dog beds to garden tools for product reviews. When she’s not scoping out the latest and greatest items on the market, you can find her hanging with her two rescue dogs.

Anna Mahan is the Associate Commerce Editor for Country Living. She finds and shares a variety of the best lifestyle products, from fashion and beauty to cast iron skillets.

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