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zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Wed Jul 11, 2018 1:19 pm
by JR.
In a leap of optimism bought a flying bug trap to catch the random flying bugs inside my house. Image

The starter kit comes with three lights and 3 replacement bug cartridges.

The concept is simple,,, some glorified flypaper and blue leds to magically attract insects.

It works after a fashion and after say one year there were a bunch of bugs in the one trap still working, but two of the three are no longer making light. I took one apart not expecting much and was surprised to find some 20 odd components not to mention a few through hole. In addition to all the parts (maybe a half dozen diodes) there was one limit switch that turns off the light if the bug cartridge is not seated in place.

I couldn't find anything wrong with the one I took apart, so didn't bother with the second.

Their strategy was clearly to sell razor blades (replacement cartridges) but this plan won't work if the razors break after just months. My guess is they didn't make money on the base, while the replacement cartridges (mainly flypaper) would be hugely profitable. Perhaps a fair strategy as one would expect from P&G but a failure in execution.

JR

PS: It looks like the design of the cartridge has changed since I bought mine, Image
so maybe the entire design has changed, or I encountered an early production issue... I may buy some flypaper and make my own, I have some blue LEDs this isn't rocket science and I have no idea why they used so many parts.

Re: zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 9:41 am
by JR.
My outlet tester uses a blue LED for signal present and is brighter than the bug trap, so I taped a fly paper cartridge to an outlet tester and have a DIY bug trap. I am still suspicious of the blue light mojo, by flypaper it time tested.

JR

PS: I could light 2 blue LEDs with only 3 parts, maybe 4 (instead of about 20) if we add a cap across the anti-parallel LEDs with one current limiting resistor... I cant imagine bugs preferring DC light, but we'll see. :lol:

Re: zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2018 8:26 pm
by mediatechnology
I'm inspired to plug in the "old-school" blue ultraviolet florescent bug zapper I have in the garage.

It looks so cool, not as cool as a lava lamp but the bug zapper is more of a summer thing.

Re: zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 10:36 am
by JR.
I just checked and my DIY substitute for blue LED base (using one of my outlet tester's blue pilot lights) is apparently working. I see several small flying insects trapped in the fly paper so the concept works after only a couple weeks in place.

JR

Re: zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 1:24 pm
by mediatechnology
What about a blue LED or an EL (electro-luminescent) panel with clear packing tape wrapped around it with the sticky side out?

Will an EL work?

Re: zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:08 pm
by JR.
I don't know much (anything) about the etymology of attracting bugs with light, other than that moths like flame... :lol: I do vaguely recall some stuff about mosquitos and polarized light?

The concept appears to involve diffusing the blue LED light with a translucent spreader behind the sticky paper.

I just taped a commercial bug trap refill to my prototype outlet tester that has a bright blue pilot light, and it worked.

JR

"Response Of Adult Mosquitoes To Light-Emitting Diodes Placed In Resting Boxes And In The Field"

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:42 pm
by mediatechnology
I don't know much (anything) about the etymology of attracting bugs with light, other than that moths like flame... :lol: I do vaguely recall some stuff about mosquitos and polarized light?

"Response Of Adult Mosquitoes To Light-Emitting Diodes Placed In Resting Boxes And In The Field" http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewc ... aarsfacpub

Have fun.
I may try a WSM2812 string and see what color pulls in the most.
viewtopic.php?f=15&t=826

FWIW I found that ants greatly prefer Aguave nectar over Molasses in traps.
Today I made them a nice snack out of fresh pineapple, Aguave nectar, Amdro and some honey on top.
They loved it, ate, then disappeared.

Re: zevo bug light trap (fail)

Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 8:47 pm
by JR.
I use a concentrated poison spray against regular ants (like black carpenter ants).

Here is a picture of an old pecan tree with ants eating it from the inside... shouldn't be leaning to the left like that. I give it a couple years.
P1010286.JPG
The fire ants respond well to dedicated fire ant granules.

I have probably killed trillions of ants over the last few decades.

JR