Electric fly swatter from swatthefly.co.uk

Nothing is more annoying than the high-pitched buzzing hum of a fly, mosquito or wasp that is flying circles around you and just won't go away, and nothing ruins a barbeque, camping trip, or hike more than these annoying little creatures. If you have problems with flying insects you might find it worthwhile to invest in a flyswatter, as these bugs are very hard to capture and kill by hand. In fact, flies carry diseases, making them unsanitary to touch, and wasps and other stinging insects can give you a painful sting if you get too close. However, with a flyswatter you have an advantage and are able to exterminate them safely and easily.

There are two types of flyswatters, the basic one being a hand-held device with a small rectangular sheet of lightweight, flexible and vented material such as rubber or plastic attached to a wire or plastic handle, and the other type being an electric flyswatter. The venting in an ordinary flyswatter improves the average person's ability to kill a fly, because it reduces wind drag. Flies have very sensitive little hairs all over their body that sense changes in air pressure and any breezes. Have you ever tried to smack one with a solid object or with your hand? They sense the movement of air long before the object reaches them, and they fly away. The vents in the flyswatter allow air to move through it, reducing it the effect on the surrounding air and making it harder for the fly to sense in advance and anticipate.

The other type of flyswatter, the electric kind, is even more effective in killing unwanted insects. They resemble a plastic tennis racket, and have a mild electric current running through the grid. The electric current can be turned on and off by a switch on the handle. These types of flyswatters work by electrifying the offending bug. The electrical current is enough to kill the insect but not strong enough to harm humans, children, or pets. The most it would cause is a small electric shock similar to the zap felt during a transfer of static electricity, such as when you walk with socks on a carpet and then touch a metal door handle.

Electric flyswatters are easier to use because they only require light contact with the fly to kill them, which makes it easier to catch flies and less mess to clean up afterwards. They aren't as hazardous as other electric fly traps that tend to run at a much higher voltage. Electric flyswatters are also more effective than regular flyswatters at killing large insects such as wasps, hornets and bees. The electric flyswatter can also kill spiders, midges, and other unwanted pests. So if you have little winged party-crashers ruining your evening, the easiest way to let them know that they are not welcome is to zap them!