Mosquito zappers that will save your skin

Summer equals mosquito season and as we get closer clever Australians are preparing to be on high alert to avoid the health risks associated with their irritating bites.
You could douse yourself in sticky and smelly mozzie repellant, or buy those equally as smelly and arguably less effective citronella candles. But have you thought about a mosquito zapper? Designed to attract mosquitos, flies and other pesky creatures, they zap them away so you can sit in your backyard in peace.
With many on the market to choose from we’ve found some of the best that will save your skin. So you can enjoy your BBQs without being bothered by the bites.
NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.
This ultrasonic device is chemical and scent-free and covers up to 1,200 square feet to send mozzies and other creatures on their way. Plugging directly into your power outlet, it takes approximately two to three weeks to take full effect but uses just two to three watts of power – so it’s not going to surge on your power bills.
The pack comes with six to use in different rooms in your home and doubles as a night light, so the kids can sleep safe and sound, and bite-free.
Weighing just 730 grams, this portable zapper is ideal if you’re on the move. Charging through its solar panel or via USB, it boasts a 20-hour run time, so it will reliably zap those bugs around you for some time before needing a charge.
What looks like a tennis racquet is actually something much more powerful. Made from three layers of grids using 3,000 volts of power, the Night Cat swatter easily kills the annoying mozzies flying around. Only the internal aluminium layer is electric, so it is safe to use and hold.
There are two settings – one that turns on the electric layer, and another that activates an LED light to attract more insects towards it. It takes about six to eight hours to recharge but will last up to 20 to 30 days. 
A cheaper option, this racket has a built-in LED light to attract bugs, it uses a triple-layer net design with two surrounding levels to keep you safe from accidental shocks while the middle layer uses 3000V of power to zap the bugs.
This Crest Mosquito Zapper uses three LED light modes to attract the mozzies to zap from up to 20m away. Measuring 12cm x 4.9cm x 8.6cm, its compact design lets it sit comfortably on any table or countertop or it can be hung above your patio space.
Mortein is an iconic brand that does the job well (and has a catchy slogan), so this one is typically towards the top of the list.
Using an automatic timer, the plug-in will release an odourless repellent that will switch off after 12 hours. Included is a refill of repellent that lasts up to 30 uses. This is for indoor use only.
When sitting by the campfire or going on a bushwalk, who really wants to be left carrying a heavy lantern or all sticky from the aerosol repellents? Sized to fit right in your pocket, the Thermacell Portable Mosquito Repeller covers up to 21 square metres from the person holding it and uses a repellent allethrin to prevent the buzzing and bites.
With 4,200V in power, this lantern-shaped zapper can protect up to 80 square metres, you’ll soon be enjoying all your summer activities completely bug-free. It’s also easy to clean, with a removable cover that makes it easy to remove dead bugs.
Zapping mosquitos, flies and moths, this PALONE electric grid uses UVA LED lighting on either side behind a safety fence to attract the insects towards the zapper from all directions. Measuring 24cm tall and 40cm wide, it can be sat on a flat surface or hung inside or outside your home.
With a battery life of up to 5.5 hours on a single charge, the Thermacell E55 Mosquito Repeller uses a 12-hour unscented repellent cartridge to create a protection radius of up to 28m2 – 80 per cent larger than the original Thermacell model.
Currently on sale in the single-pack, you can also buy this repeller in a six-pack to cover all areas in your backyard. Also available is the smaller Thermacell Mini Halo Mosquito Repeller that covers up to 21m2.
Designed for indoor and outdoor use, this zapper attracts the mosquitos using a UV light and shocks them with 3,000 volts of power. It is completely chemical-free and safe around children and pets – especially for little fingers and paws with an isolation net included. 
Using UV light and a built-in fan, this insect trap attracts and captures mosquitos, gnats, moths, fruit flies and other unwanted insects on its glue pad at the bottom. For best results, place it in a dark room approximately 30 square metres in size and where the mosquitos like to roam. Then just let the machine work its magic.
This $69.99 trap comes with a USB cable and AU power adapter to get it working, as well as 10 glue pads to use. If you need a refill, they can be bought separately here.
This is one of the more powerful zappers on the market, using 4,000 watts of power to kill the bugs. It uses UV light to attract the mozzies and zaps them from an internal grid, making it safe to keep around kids and pets. It weighs only 300 grams and covers 80 square metres, so everyone in your backyard will be protected. 
Creating a mosquito-free perimeter, the Thermacell THMRP2 System can provide up to 41m2 of total coverage for up to four hours before changing repellent mats. This system comes with mounts, poles and stakes to place them anywhere in your backyard.
The Skeeter Hawk Area Mosquito Trap uses UV lighting to attract the bugs towards it. As they get closer to the trap, they get sucked in by the built-in fan system and captured. It comes with a built-in hook and a cord to hang and place in different areas in your backyard.
The B.ALL zapper kills both mozzies and flies with two different zapper settings – the purple setting kills both bugs, but the yellow setting specifically kills mosquitos. It has up to eight hours per charge and is best used in a dark environment and approximately 1.5 metres above the ground. While it can be used outdoors, it is not waterproof.
This solar-powered stainless steel lamp uses purple lighting to illuminate a path to your front door while helping prevent mosquitos from following you.
If you want more bang for your buck, this zapper also functions as a camping lantern and flashlight with five different light settings for your desired brightness. Using advanced electronic insect control, it attracts bugs via UV light and kills them using a 600-volt grid, creating a bug-free zone.
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