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After some aggressive and rigorous tests, we added a new option: Terro T800 garbage protection device.

Unless you are an entomologist, you may not be excited about bugs in your home. Whether they are spiders, flies, cockroaches or centipedes, your first instinct is likely to get rid of them immediately. In order to find the best insecticidal equipment, we turned to experienced exterminators and entomologists, and interviewed an aviation professor at the California Institute of Technology, who spent more than 15 years studying the flight avoidance behavior of house flies . In the past two years, we have tested fly swatters, insect killers, and various insect traps to make our recommendations.

This guide is mainly about dealing with house flies. We have a separate ant problem guide, and we are currently planning a cockroach killer guide. If you need to deal with bugs outdoors, we provide a guide on insect repellents, wasp and hornet sprays, and mosquito control devices, and an article on how permethrin can help you deal with ticks.

There is an insecticide tool you can’t find here: an insecticide, which works like any other indiscriminate mass killing.

This simple fly swatter has a fast whipping wire handle, a longer distance than the competition, and the lowest price. It is not as durable as the overbuilt option, but its performance is equally good or better.

After testing eight fly swatters (and killing hundreds of flies in the process) and talking to Michael Dickinson, a professor of bioengineering and aeronautics at the California Institute of Technology, he has been studying the flying behavior of flies for more than 15 years , We think the best choice is the Pic fly swatter. This is the longest fly swatter we have tested, so its head will naturally move faster than others, and its reach is slightly better. The steel wire handle has just the right degree of curvature, and will produce a satisfactory whip when slapped in contact. One disadvantage of Pic slap is that it does not have extraordinary durability-we found that each slap can last a summer of hard use-but the truth is that almost no slap is good, and in this case it is cheap simplest. The Pic version only costs a few dollars, usually a pack of two packs, so if you have to change a pair after a few years of shooting, it's no big deal.

The other fly swatters we tested were either shorter and felt more fragile, or more expensive but couldn't swat better. As Dickinson told us, fly swatter is more of a technique than a tool you use, so if you already have a fly swatter you like, you'd better stick to it.

According to Dickinson, flies rely heavily on vision, and the speed of their nervous system is many times faster than that of humans—Dickinson said in an interview that it is 10 times faster, and that the speed of vision alone is more than 6 times faster than that of human eyes. Therefore, when you swat the flies, the key is "you don't want to be seen, you want to be as fast as possible," he said. One way to get the speed advantage is to use a longer tap. As Dickinson told us, "If you hold an object in your hand, the speed at which you move its end is mainly proportional to its length." But even this only provides a small advantage, he said. "This skill actually comes down to getting your fly close to the fly before you flip it, because you want to minimize the distance... I think whether you have a crappy fly swatter or a good fly swatter, you Can do this."

According to Dickinson, "The stupidity of almost all fly swatters I have seen is that they are very visually conspicuous." Because flies rely heavily on vision, Dickinson's ideal slap should be "clear and non-reflective." We did not find any obvious fly swatters there.

We asked Dickinson what he used to slap flies. His answer is: a rolled up newspaper.

With a thick threaded handle and leather head, this flapping does not have the quick whipping action of Pic, but you may never have to replace it.

*At the time of publication, the price was $14.

If you are worried about the long-term durability of Pic, we recommend Hope Woodworking Leather Fly Swatter (also available in black one-piece or black or brown three-piece). After two years of ruthless testing on rural properties with cows-and the thousands of flies that came with them-we found that the skin-headed flies showed no signs of slowing down. It does not have Pic’s fast, deadly attacks, and it costs about $15, which is five or six times its price. But with its elegant appearance, easy to clean and indestructible nature, this is a luxury car.

The leather head is the focus of Hope's durability. If you try to slap a fly on a sharp corner of the countertop, you may break the Pic slap, but Hope can slap the sharp corners all day with great results. The leather head is also easier to clean, just occasionally wipe it with a damp paper towel. In contrast, Pic’s plastic grid is very suitable for grabbing and fixing the internal organs of bugs. To clean it, you usually need to run it under the tap.

As for the actual fly killing effect, Hope swatter is very good, but the soft leather head means it lacks Pic’s strong whip. The leather also adds weight, which can make the handle a bit excessively curved. Placing the two slaps side by side, these differences are obvious, but we found that by slightly increasing arm strength and emphasizing wrist twitching, Hope is almost as good as Pic.

Hope swatter not only looks good, but it also provides us with a comfortable tool for life-long use. Even for something as mundane and unpleasant as a fly swatter, knowing that we don’t have to think about buying another thing for years and years will relax the mood. In the end, we have to admit that we feel that a piece of leather can crush flies better than a piece of plastic.

In addition to those two bats, we also saw the Jiemei fly swatter, it is very cheap, it feels thin and plastic. Smart Swatter is nearly 3 inches shorter than Pic. Our previous choice, Enoz Fly Swatter, was a good shot, but our lint quickly deformed after only a few shots. Enoz also makes Sergeant Swat, which is an over-made slap that is too strong and bulky, and it dents the wooden coffee table when we first slap it.

We also evaluated two other leather fly swatters, Happy Tack Amish Made leather fly swatter and PrimeHomeProducts leather fly swatter. Their construction is not as good as Hope Woodworking swatter because their leather heads are either skewed, off-center, or poorly connected to the handle.

Charged, shocking executioners are best suited for flying insects or particularly succulent insects. It is more effective than fly swatter and more concise (even if you have this, it is still a necessity).

*At the time of publication, the price was $28.

The hangman is basically a tennis racket that stuns or kills bugs through the electric current of the head. This may seem like a gimmick, but it has several advantages over traditional fly swatters: first, it is better than fly swatters that kill bugs during flight, and second, there are no squashed bugs to clean up (although usually There is a slight burning smell). It is also fun to confirm every kill with the loud blasting sound and the flash of sparks. The executioner can't solve all your problems-hitting a lively housefly in mid-air is a challenge, and you can't hit a stationary fly with this thing-so it's best as a companion to a traditional fly swatter. We found that it is most suitable for mosquitoes, moths or fruit flies.

Hangman is easy to use. At the top of the handle is a button to activate charging. When you press it, a small red indicator light will light up (the device will also make a sharp whine). During the test, we press the button and touch the grid to see how high the voltage is; although it emits satisfactory pop music and gives you a pungent vibration, it will not make you frustrated.

Being able to kill a bug in the air will change the way you find bugs on a basic level-you just need to see the bug and swing on it. With a traditional fly swatter, you have to follow the erratic, circular flight of the bug around the room and wait for it to fall on an object that can withstand a strong beating; then, only then can you try to kill. The executioner was instant and satisfying.

We also like that The Executioner does not squash bugs, which can cause stains, especially cockroaches and other large bugs. Instead, the executioner will only leave a scorched but intact corpse that you can easily scoop up and throw it into the trash can.

Executioners are also effective in the garden, where you can scrape off small bugs on plants and throw them onto the grid. This method allows you to kill harmful pests that infect plants without using pesticides.

Although The Executioner is made of plastic, it has a sturdy structure, especially when compared with the Amazing Handheld Bug Zapper, which is usually less costly, but feels particularly fragile. The executioner uses AA batteries (not included).

We hope that the executioner has some kind of lanyard hole that can be easily hung on the wall. Unless you basically sandwich it between two items in a closet or garage, it can be awkward to store, where it-and the bug that it was burned-can touch other items. There is a gap between the handle and the head, but if you hang it on it, it will hang crookedly.

Wirecutter editor Josh Lyon is a long-time fan of Dianpai and now mainly uses Executioner. He really liked it, he said: "It's especially suitable for stronger spiny bugs that our cheap Zap It can hardly reach." However, he reported that the executioner was not perfect: "I still use Zap It to deal with us. There are groups of small mosquitoes in the yard, because the outer mesh layer can better catch a large number of insects at the same time." He also pointed out that the executioner’s battery compartment popped up from time to time, and we have also encountered it.

This small invention attaches to the bottom of the trash can and releases an insecticide that can kill any flies or other annoying things trying to live in the trash can.

*At the time of publication, the price was $7.

If there are flies in and around your outdoor trash can, Terro T800 Garbage Guard should be able to help you solve the problem. It is a small capsule attached to the bottom of the lid and emits insecticide vapor. Once the lid is closed, the toxin will accumulate enough to kill any flies or maggots trying to make a living there. It is valid for up to four months, accounting for most of the summer in many areas. We have found that spam protection is very effective, even in the most extreme cases (if you really want to know what we are talking about, please keep reading-but be careful).

Due to a series of unusual events, we tested the Garbage Guard by putting a bag full of about 15 dead mice and covered with a thousand maggots into the garbage can protected by the Garbage Guard. A few days later, we checked the bucket and found that all but two maggots were dead. (There are many dead people at the bottom of the bucket. It looks like someone spilled a bag of rice.) Considering the results of this particular test, we are confident in the abilities of the Garbage Guardian.

The weakness of Garbage Guard is the adhesive, which caused it to fall off the lid and into the trash can of a Wirecutter worker who tested it. This is the duplicate content we see in many Amazon reviews, which is frustrating because it is easy not to notice that it has disappeared, so it will be thrown away along with other trash. However, it cannot be guaranteed to fall. Another tester’s trash was picked up by a truck with a robotic arm. He placed the trash guard near the hinge of the lid to minimize movement. So far, it shows no signs of falling off. We recommend cleaning the adhesion area as much as possible before installing Garbage Guard, and then pay close attention to it as the summer goes on.

The active ingredient of Garbage Guard is dichlorvos, and like any insecticide, it should be handled with care. The instructions point out that the Garbage Guard should not be used in "places where people will stay for a long time", so don't put it in your kitchen trash can (but your garage bucket should be fine). Garbage guards should also be kept away from children and pets. A Garbage Guard can cover up to 50 square feet of space, so only one can be used per barrel.

The CDC previously assessed the frequency of acute diseases related to pest strips containing dichlorvos (the active ingredient of Garbage Guard), and published the results of the study in 2014. The study investigated 31 (30 possible, 1 possible) dichlorvos-related health incidents reported by seven states in the United States between 2000 and 2013, Canada and Canada. The author writes that about two-thirds of the cases are the result of label violations, mainly the use of dichlorvos pest strips in "areas where people live for more than 4 hours a day", such as kitchens and bedrooms. (Other violations include the use of more products than necessary and the use of heaters to accelerate the vaporization of toxins.) In the case of “it is not clear whether a label violation has occurred,” the author pointed out that “exposure to [...dichlorvos] may be due to Caused by misunderstanding of label instructions." If used properly, we believe that garbage protection devices will not pose a major health threat.

This kind of fluke, battery-free pneumatic vacuum cleaner is very suitable for catching and releasing slow-moving insects or spiders and other hard-to-reach small animals.

BugZooka is a bug vacuum cleaner that can suck bugs intact into a closed room for later release outside. This is a good choice for slower bugs (such as spiders or ladybugs) that you might not want to kill. Unlike other vacuum cleaners, BugZooka does not require batteries. It also provides strong suction power and extends to about 2 feet. We also like that it has two insect chambers.

BugZooka is completely pneumatic: a bellows at one end provides suction and the other end is open. To use it, you first need to fold the bellows. This action is resisted by the spring mechanism, which clicks and locks into place. When you press the release button, the spring pushes the bellows away quickly, generating a small but strong suction at the open end. For most people, locking the bellows is easy, just press the bellows against the hips or hard surfaces.

In our tests, the suction power of BugZooka was significantly stronger than the battery-powered options we saw. BugZooka can pick up several ants at the same time effortlessly without harming them. Although fortunately, it does not have a built-in magnifying glass, BugZooka does have a beautiful transparent collection chamber (with spare), so you can use it to investigate your catch (a great way to collect and observe errors, curious kids). It is easier to safely remove bugs from BugZooka's collection room than with other models: after collection, you only need to pump the bellows a few times to blow the bugs out.

BugZooka's telescopic tube makes its effective range of 2 feet, which should be enough to reach high angles where spiders like to hide. Pneumatic operation means it is ready to take action at any time. In addition, if it has been four months and you suddenly find an error, you will not be trapped by a dead battery, and it has a wall-mounted bracket for easy storage of the closet.

We have tested and evaluated many other fly-related products and found that many of them are effective to varying degrees, but they have enough shortcomings that we cannot fully recommend them. Some may apply to your own situation.

Eliminator Fly Gun is a stupid but very limited small item. This is a fragile plastic pistol that can shoot fragile fly swatters. The two parts are connected by a kitchen rope, presumably so that the disc will not be lost. It can only work at a distance shorter than the rope (approximately 16 inches), and the target fly needs to be on a flat, preferably vertical surface. It comes in two packs, and the fact that one of the guns lost part of the disc on arrival emphasizes the overall low quality of the item.

Bug-A-Salt 3.0 has the look and feel of a Nerf gun, but it fires a small amount of salt, which theoretically kills a fly. It's certainly fun to use, but it's not very practical, and honestly, it's not that effective. Sometimes we can kill a fly with one shot, but usually it takes two or even three shots. Hornets and wasps usually require five or six shots to kill. Bug-A-Salt is also for outdoor use only-we tested it indoors and found that salt was everywhere. It’s good to smile or sit on the deck and take off the flies that fall on the railing, but otherwise, we will pass.

We also tested the Harbour Freight Electronic Fly and Insect Swatter (looks very similar to Zap It). At less than US$5, it is much cheaper than The Executioner (usually around US$25). This lower cost is directly reflected in the overall quality of the goods. It feels very fragile in the hand, and it is very fragile. More importantly, the model we bought from Harbour Freight didn't even work.

Catchmaster Window Fly Traps, a sticky trap that sticks to the window, was the previous choice, but after long-term use, we found a problem with removing the adhesive from the window. They are also disgusting. They are perfect for attic or garage spaces, where windows are usually not in the way, but we don't think they are suitable for living areas.

We chose not to test any flying belts, such as Pic FR10B Fly Ribbon, Terro T518 Fly Magnet or Big Devil Fly Catcher. We have used enough of these in the past to conclude that the difference between brand and brand is very small. In our annual fight against houseflies, every weapon we have used is an effective but ugly weapon. If you are really infected, they may be a good choice, but you have to look at them.

Bait traps, such as Rescue Outdoor Disposable Fly Trap and Victor Fly Magnet, are suitable for large-scale trapping and killing of flies, but they have a strong trade-off. To use one, you can add water to the container to activate the bait, and then hang it on a branch or hook; the top of the bag has a one-way entrance to catch flies. The problem is that the bait smells like 500 pounds of heat to death. It was terrible, terrible. In the face of a large number of outdoor fly infestations, these traps are a good choice-just make sure to place them downwind of the house.

Gardner FlyWeb Classic Fly Light is the previous choice. It uses a proprietary UV bulb to attract flies; once inside the housing, the flies will be trapped on the sticky board. In our tests, FlyWeb is a good catcher, but it is expensive and requires a socket in addition to ongoing maintenance (new bulbs and new adhesive pads). We also don't like how much light the light brings to the fly-covered sticker. We have to wonder if this is the same "bug lamp" that deals with flies in the White House.

Michael Dickinson, Esther M. and Abe M. Zarem Professor of Bioengineering and Aeronautics, California Institute of Technology, telephone interview, August 15, 2018

Scott Armbrust, entomologist and owner of Rid-A-Pest Exterminators in Littleton, Colorado, email interview, June 25, 2013

Rick Steinau, bed bugs in the house, ask the exterminator

Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter, covering home improvement. He has worked in the field of high-end construction for 10 years as a carpenter, foreman and supervisor. He lived in a very demanding farmhouse with a history of 250 years and spent four years demolishing and rebuilding his previous home. He also raises sheep, raises a cow, and milks him every morning.

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