DIY 5 Gallon Pail Mosquito Trap Build

This is the build video for our homemade mosquito trap. Thanks!
LOTS of requests to see if the trap works - check that out here: • DIY 5 Gallon Pail Mosq...
We'd like to formally apologize for the audio/sound leveling. When we decided to share this project with the world we had little experience, everyone starts somewhere :)
Thank you for all the input!
Music: Beach
Musician: Jef
Music: Walk
Musician: @iksonmusic
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Thank you!

[@GoCoyote]

Electrician here: I would like to introduce a small but very important detail to the lamp socket wiring. The lamp cord will have a narrow blade and a wide blade on its plug. The wide one is connected to the neutral, and the narrow blade to the hot, of the receptacle (if it is wired correctly), and is called a polarized plug. If you examine the lamp cord, it is composed of two wires running parallel and connected by a rubber or plastic section of the insulation. It will usually have small ridges or stripes on the side with the wide blade that is the neutral wire. This MUST be connected to the shell of the lamp socket (The part with the screw threads for the lamp), and the smooth side that is connected to the narrow blade which is the hot wire MUST be connected to the center contact in the middle of the lamp socket. This ensures that the section of the lamp socket most likely to come into contact with a human is connected to the neutral wire instead of the hot wire.

[@cilismoniker7322]

Would it be alright to cut the fan wire short, and connect it in parallel with the light socket terminals? This way, only one plug would be needed and also the voltage wouldn't drop across the circuit.

[@GoCoyote]

@@cilismoniker7322 Absolutely. This would be the correct way to wire the system.

[@cilismoniker7322]

One more thing, please. If an outdoor fixture lacks a ground it should generally have a fuse, right? Ballpark a 3 or 3.5 amp fuse I should add in-line for safety? The fan itself is 120v with a 2.5 amp fuse. I'm assuming the fan already has the 25% over minimum amp built into that 2.5 amp AGC fuse. For a ceiling light, 60w/120v for .5 amp, with that 25% extra = .625 amp. Total 3.1a. So 3a/3.5a fuse? Thanks!

[@tolucamexico1412]

@@cilismoniker7322 woah you guys must be pro electricians, im thinking of becominng one but i dont know the difference between an electrician and electrical engineer, which is harder to be? also talking about electricity stuff, looks very complicated, how many years of study did you have to take, also what type of jobs do you have to do as an electrician?

[@jimviau327]

Toluca Mexico . An Electrical engineer is a person who went through many years of study at a university and is likely to find a job, or not, in a company, spending most of his days in an office and probably earn a little more than an electrician who will only require a government permit to join a professional electrician for many hours, pass a simple exam and be on its way to wire homes and make a ton of money if acting a bit intelligent. Clearly if your goal is to find an earning career go electrician, if you are passionate about science and physics and headaches go in electrical engineering . It's that simple.

[@marciegaebel8810]

I never leave comments but I had to say for someone who says he's uncomfortable in front of the camera you are excellent at tutorials. The instructions were clear, the pace was perfect, and of course the content was A+. Keep putting it out there!

[@TheChristonline]

Thanks Marcie , you said all I would have tried to say but way better than I could. Now I just like your comment and he gets the point .

[@dnllmaurer1]

@@TheChristonlineHe has an engaging personality & everything about his presentation was on point. Very clear instructions, complete demo of each step & the flow was as seamless as a professional production.

[@TheChristonline]

@@dnllmaurer1 yup

[@TheBomo]

ByDingos - That was relatively my comment as well.

[@riverraisin1]

That latch you made out of the handle is one of the most ingenious things I've seen on YT.

[@kensaki3024]

Outstanding. Man, he is filming this without commercial in between. You have my respect.

[@chadmarkley]

The sharpie with arrows and measurements is so helpful visually. I would have loved you as a shop teacher in high school!!!

[@cecilcooper6210]

I built me one, using your directions and am amazed how good it works. We find 5 gal buckets on the roadside over and over. I cut the fan wire and wired it through the extra terminals of the light and used the left over cord for the unit. Now only one cord. Very good. Gonna make a couple more for my friends.

[@sun4u423]

Makem and sellem ☀️😎

[@tbirdracefan]

I was wondering why waist the money on a cord only to throw away the fan cord? Also leaves just one cord to plug in.

[@alanesterline2310]

Cecil, How well has it worked at catching mosquitoes? I was not able to find a Black Light bulb, not even an LED type. I used a 20w incandescent bulb which I used a black marker to "paint" so there is less white light, not wanting to attract other insects. Have gotten some small black flies and a couple mosquitoes but not many. Maybe it is the wind that is keeping them out of it.

[@ssnerd583]

@@alanesterline2310 amazon has them

[@paulmonk7820]

Suggestion: wrap the screen around the outside, make one cut where it overlaps, place the single fitted piece on the inside, and glue it.

[@americanindeon]

Agreed

[@belindafalgout1675]

Placing it inside looks a lot neater!

[@paulmonk7820]

@@belindafalgout1675 He did already have it on the inside, just in 3 separately cut and glued sections. This way is simpler and quicker.

[@ryanmalin]

@@belindafalgout1675 He said put it on the inside. What he was saying is only make one cut. There is no reason to make 3 separate sections when one would do the trick.

[@MrSluggoSir667]

I complained about that when I was watching...lol

[@bobhoward9016]

I gave a thumbs up when i saw the signs your girl made... 3 seconds in i was sold

[@jeremypetro1084]

Hey buddy, don't feel awkward helping people. Nothing but love and respect for you and your family and animals from Brookfield Connecticut!!!

[@redzebra6688]

BY FAR the most beautiful mosquito trap project and BEST PRESENTATION, absolutely amazingly done. Fantastic, period. 🤝👍

[@redzebra6688]

Ah, I just subbed

[@bakednammer]

I hit like and subscribe because I like the way you asked me too LMFAO which is rare...... hahahah

[@oldfaart7923]

Thankyou, Thankyou, Thankyou!!!! I made one and it is slaughtering bugs! Put water & dawn in the bottom like someone suggested drowns them quickly. Making another for my son.

[@bobbyburnette8764]

Thank you for not using any loud annoying music, very good idea here. I'll give it a try.

[@webyankee6558]

I would have preferred no music to what he selected.

[@ericredbear425]

It was both loud AND annoying. Did we watch different videos?

[@GCarterStokum]

that handle latch system is something i'm gonna use for a swamp cooler build! very clean and clever!

[@Katya5cat]

Nice idea that I would change a couple things on it. Safety wise make sure that your neutral and hot wires are placed correctly. Neutral goes to silver terminal and hot/line wire hooks up to brass colored terminal. Neutral wire on the extension cord has little rib/s on it the hot has smooth surface. The neutral terminal on the cord is the wider one. Might seem overkill but there is a possibility of exposure to the hot terminal on your bulb. You could also just take the insulation off a section on both wires without cutting them and just wrap them around the light terminals then you would be able to use the plug to power the fan.

[@Forensic1Man]

That is a very nice and clean mosquito trap-build! Now, if you make 10,000 and sell them for $75/each, you will be in the money!

[@marsrevolutionary]

You can run the fan plug up the inside of one of the pillars, cut it to length and wire it directly into the lamp. Hot to hot, neutral to neutral and then you only have one plug to worry about.

[@steveandjenny149]

I've never seen so much care and precision and time put into a mosquito trap!

[@ArticAkita2830]

Get bitten enough and very tired of having to buy spendy & hazardous bug sprays & other bug deterrent products only to find out they sold out!!!! It's McGuver time!!😊

[@bobf3598]

We used a lamp base with an attached 3 prong outlet so doing away with an extra cable to plugin. Just cut the fan cable to about 7" long and attach a plug. The bulb we used was a Sunlite 80114-SU LED A19 Black Light Bulb 365nm Wavelength. attracts them like the plague!. Been out about an hour and its working fantastic. Way better than those $150+ over priced Dyno traps. As for those who say UV light doesn't do anything, i beg to differ! Plus no use of smelly lure, just a fan and a UV light works. Out of curiosity I just used a standard light bulb, and all that attracted and trapped were mostly moths and flying beetles. Switch to UV and the results were fantastic at trapping mosquitoes.

[@dapooramericanhomesteadfar7192]

27 minutes video. You could have pushed 3 more minutes and show it in action.

[@almeidadeno]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gou8hIN8hclnidU

[@skinfusionz]

or could have made this simple task a 3 minute video

[@lordjaashin]

@@skinfusionz or you could stfu and make your own 3 minute video if you are so anal retentive about it

[@OJA1965]

@@lordjaashin That made me laugh

[@michaelculhane3058]

Because it didn't work.

[@cilismoniker7322]

You can improve it's effectiveness with bait. Thankfully, bait is easy to make. You want to produce lactic acid and you want to produce Co2. In order to do this, just make watery flour with yeast added to it and place it nearby the trap. This'll produce Co2. The lactic acid can be made from a combination of live yogurt and milk. The SciShow youtube channel has a piece about studies done on what attracts mosquitos. Funny enough, the color of the buckets themselves has an impact. Black traps will attract 5 times as many mosquitos as white or yellow traps. Red and blue are also good options, but orange is not. I guess that you could also make a Co2 bait out of a bottle of wine, 1 tbps peroxide to neutralize the sulfates, dilute the wine with water and add apple cider vinegar mother to the mixture. The apple cider vinegar mother will convert the wine to vinegar, and release Co2 in the process.

[@TheLawCoyoteTLC]

Proper bait placement is important with this design. If it's in the lower part, the c02 will be blown away from the entrance of the fan. It will bring mosquitos to the area, but not all will make it inside, as they are not primarily attracted to light

[@deanpatterson9036]

Best short way to say it! Other people have to add the history and chemistry to CO2. The Black paint trick is the first to be forgotten?

[@jordanfolds4288]

@@TheLawCoyoteTLC where would you put it?

[@JohnRohoboth]

its effectiveness. Its Its Its

[@maddoxinc1642]

This is the piece he was missing and I was waiting for. You have to bait in the mosquitos, they don't really care about the black light.

[@switchedon6530]

Brilliant...on moving to the US from the UK some time back, one thing you guys have are lots of mosquitoes. Thank you for the idea, top marks 👍🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@georgejetson4378]

When making your extension cord connection to the lamp base, it’s important to ensure that the correct polarity is maintained, i. e., phase connects to the center lamp socket terminal and neutral to the outer ring. Incorrect phasing for incandescent lamp connection will not affect operation but can affect product safety.

[@e125]

What difference there is if you can plug it to wall socket both sides.

[@SuperMacDaddy66]

I finished building this just before dark. It's hanging on my porch and seems to be working great!

[@teaganroehl]

Can you do a follow up of how many mosquitoes you caught?

[@TheCanalZone]

Exactly. He built a mosquito trap, but won't demonstrate if it even works.

[@Packer1290]

I'm guessing mostly moth's a maybe a few errant mosquitos found their way in there. I had a bug zapper that required you to add a small container of some gel that supposedly attracted mosquitos because mosquitos were not attracted to the blue light of the zapper.

[@richardsebreower]

@@Packer1290 kzbin.info/www/bejne/gou8hIN8hclnidU

[@richardstrahin6142]

Really enjoyed watching this video and thank you for posting it ! We don't have many mosquitoes at my home in West Virginia but I am going to make one just because I like to make things. Thanks again, you are also an excellent communicator ~ I would think that you are a teacher.

[@vallor8322]

Very enjoyable and informative! You seem like a great camera person and, just a protip, keep showing the animals. People LOVE to get to know the animals :) I love how precise the instructions were and also you didn't fall into the trap so many other video makers fall into which is using all the specialized tools in some super equipped workshop in the crafting. I know I don't have a lathe, CNC machine, or many other expensive tools so the drill+jigsaw was great to see.

[@sellC1964]

You need to make sure neutral attaches to round socket liner. Otherwise you will have an exposed hot .

[@tomytable1753]

Thank you for sharing this amazing project. Plus the animals and pets story. Keep up the good work.

[@TheTamrock2007]

Great project. I live near a swampy area and the mosquitos are terrible. Your a great instructor did great with this video. Liked and saved and subscribed

[@bigbassmaniac]

Some improvements can be made. 5 gallon buckets are made of hdpe (high density poly ethylene) same kind of plastic as milk jugs which does not like to hold glues very well. Because you used aluminum mesh instead of using glue I would suggest using a soldering iron or wood burner and melting the mesh into the bucket. Using hot glue works but it won’t really last if it gets moved around or bumped a lot.

[@luckyedwards4870]

I wonder y u didn't just simply cut one long continuous piece of mesh, the exact length of the inner circumference of the bucket, and just secure the whole length inside the bucket, rather than taking the trouble and extra work to cut separate pieces. It doesn't appear to b necessary to cut the mesh into 3 separate pieces.

[@JEM866]

Excellent DIY build. I followed your instructions and built one myself. I saw your other video with all the captured mosquitoes and insects from one night of running. I changed a couple things, like the light fixture and went with a very fine fiberglass screen, as I have noseeums and mosquitoes here in FL. I'll test it out tonight , but I'm very sure this is going to work just how you proved it could.

[@gritchard]

How did it work out?

[@geraldwerth6164]

@@gritchard no complaints, must mean it worked, 😂

[@jonathanrandall4140]

Awesome DIY, love the care and precision you put into building this, thanks! Is it rain proof, and how has it worked so far?

[@drsnooz8112]

I am soooo gonna build this. Every freaking night at 6 pm is the witching hour here. I'm outside trying to work on my car while simultaneously keeping an eye out for skeeters. Here, they are fast and nearly invisible. Often, you barely feel the bite. They bite me. I kill them. We are about 50/50 right now. I was winning, but one of them brought me back to even the other night. He bit the crap out of me, leaving multiple big, red welts that itched for days. I need an edge. We'll see how he likes my new trap. #cackles maniacally#

[@e.cabanjr7511]

Excellent instruction to your construction! You teach like a pro. I’ve subscribed. Looking forward to more.

[@rickmatthews322]

Great video! Monday morning QB here... Seems like over time the fan blade and motor will take a beating. (Including build-up of bugs sucked into the motor.) It struck me that because of the modularity that you built into the design the middle section could theoretically be moved to the bottom, sucking the bugs in instead of blowing them through the fan. The new middle bucket, the trap bucket would only need the bottom cut and screened; no need for windows on the sides. You'd want 100% of the fan suction transferred up to the lamp; you wouldn't want to suck air through the sides. Just a thought.

[@gwrulzmylife]

Great video. I wish the volume was consistent throughout. I had to keep muting when the music would spike.

[@Reyajh]

Yeah those music spikes are really hard on the ears. One minute you can't hear what he's saying and the next your ears are bleeding.

[@watong9232]

Agreed. I just muted the audio altogether as soon as the annoyingly loud music started. The visual alone is sufficient.

[@andy347]

Not a mosquito trap - it's a flying insect trap. Mosquitos are not attracted to black light, but you may occasionally catch one that flies by.

[@rmendes2mendes915]

Good job but plastic buckets don’t hold up, they eventually get brittle and turn into crunchy little pieces. Also how do we know the thing works? And how good does it work? You didn’t demo it.

[@bkpickell]

I was thinking the same thing. For mosquitoes you would need to put a pan of water in the bottom and drop in dry ice.

[@ReidWhitsettLLR]

Mosquitoes are attracted to heat and scents so perhaps they could work well properly baited.

[@andy347]

@@ReidWhitsettLLR CO2 and scents

[@MatthewJenove]

That's awesome! What do you think about wiring the fan into the lamp base so you only have one cord to plug in?

[@TheNikitis]

Yeah I came to the comments to say just this. Your lamp has a 2nd screw, just cut the plug on the end of the fan and wire to the lamp so you only need to use 1 plug instead of 2 in your outlet.

[@dtruque]

You can also use a lamp base that comes w an outlet or use a socket adapter w an outlet. However when I built this, I secured the lamp base to the fan, so that the bulb comes up instead of hangs down. It was easier for me to use tie wraps to secure the base to the fan motor casing and allowed me to have an open top for more air intake and light exposure. I can always just put the bucket lid back on if looks like it may rain.

[@sleevelessinsiam1285]

@@dtruque is it harder to clean in that config?

[@dtruque]

@@sleevelessinsiam1285 In both cases you have to move the fan casing to clean it, so I don't think it makes much of a difference. On retrospect, I think the lightbulb hanging upside down towards the casing may be slightly more effective because it lures the mosquitoes to hang out closer to the casing, where they get sucked in. In my design, since they hang out at the top of the bulb (and the base of the bulb is on to the casing), then there's less suction where they are. Up here there aren't many mosquitoes until the summer, so in a couple months I'll finally put it to the test!

[@jsparlin1]

@@TheNikitis you can buy pullchain light that has recpt build in. or cut off fan plug and wire into keyless.

[@mr.rodriguez3908]

Wow dude, if you thought of that all on your own I am impressed. I know you got the idea from preexisting mosquito traps that are similar but the creative choice and assembly of the various materials was ingenious. Great job and thanks for the content.

[@swp466]

A couple of tips regarding the lamp base. When you cut and strip your cord, pay attention to the two wires after you split them -- one will have a groove texture along its entire length. This usually indicates the neutral wire. The plug blade that flares out (the wider one) is also the neutral -- so you can make sure you've identified the right wire. You ALWAYS want to connect the neutral wire to the silver screw and never to the brass one. The silver screw connects to the threaded part of the lamp base. If you get this wrong, then the exposed metal of the bulb will be live as you're screwing or unscrewing it and you might get a bit of a surprise. Also, when using stranded wire with screw terminals like those on the base, if you twist the strands backwards (counter-clockwise) after you strip them, and then wrap the wire clockwise around the screw (as normal), the strands will not fray when you tighten the screw.

[@josephroberts6027]

@swp466 Most excellently said! People get so excited that they accomplished something, they NEVER remember the details! Case in point the scenario you gave, with the right combo of conditions, which are easily met, that can be DEADLY!

[@macc240038]

Can you show us one nights haul of mosquitoes ?

[@fxnepilogue]

My cousin built one and made me a believer. We live in skeeterville and they got about an inch deep of mosquitos in the bottom of the bucket in one night.

[@greenlegaciesrobertlaurist8737]

Yes. I would love to see the results of this.

[@chrisnguyen5922]

This is the DIY build guide; if you go to this user's uploaded videos, he shows how many he caught in one night.

[@scottsolar5884]

@@fxnepilogue chicken food or fish food? Both!

[@brianjones866]

I missed the part where you caught the mosquitoes

[@lonnymoore2622]

what about roughting the power line for the fan up to the light so there is only one cable to plug in ?

[@ilovefunnyamv2nd]

Yup, and while doing that, make sure the polarity for everything is right. you want to make sure the nuetral is what is exposed, but it would make this a much cleaner 1 cable system

[@drteknical6571]

@@ilovefunnyamv2nd Thank you both for saving me the typing time! Why WOULDN'T you wire the fan there?!?!

[@rodsofgod6863]

Can you please show us the results you are getting from the mosquito trap, give us an update on the project..Thank you!!

[@danm3584]

Awesome build! You replicated a 300 mosquito trap. A few of thoughts. You could you tie the fan cord into the light fixture. That we be easy and one less cord to plug in. Will water get to your fan motor? Maybe cut the bottom of a sour cream container and cover the speed selection and motor. It could be wired to the cage. Lastly, the side screen could be left in one long piece and glued into place.

[@SeanReevesD]

To make the sides one piece, you'd have to cut it like a rainbow, with less of a curve, because the bucket is tapered.

[@cilismoniker7322]

I made it. 40 mosquitos in the first night just using a generic 75w LED lightbulb. Having to wait for a BLB to arrive in the mail. I added a glass quick blow safety fuse on the live wire so if the motor ever grinds to a halt on the fan, it wont catch the extension cord on fire. In-line holders and the fuses themselves are easily had on amazon. Just be sure to get 125v(120v) or 240v(245v) fuses and not the automotive 12v rated ones. 3.15a fuse for fan+light. Likewise, the fan and light are wired in parallel. Lastly, google green-light and mosquito. Turns out that some wavelength of green light is as effective as UV at drawing mosquitos if not more effective. Gonna give green-light a try whenever the BLB burns out.

[@johnh7918]

Be careful about the heat of the bulb melting the plastic of the bucket.

[@cilismoniker7322]

So update. Green light is not more effective. The study concerning them was fairly old and they messed up. Their emitting light was one of those old arc lights that also emit a ton of UVC, B and A. It just so happened the green photo filter did the least absorbing of the UV light the lamp was also emitting. I tried a BLB and 365nm-only black light. The 365nm did catch more than the generic white bulb. It also caught almost exclusively mosquitos with few moths and no lightning bugs. The BLB bulb did technically catch more mosquitos, but it also caught basically everything else. Black flies, moths, mosquitos, preying mantis and june bugs. If you want to be kind to moths, I guess the 365nm bulb is the better choice. If you hate all flying insects, BLB it is.

[@ronbo39339]

Could’ve left the bottom in the bucket & filled that part w water & a teaspoon of oil to remove the surface tension of the water so the bugs drown.

[@marcs3982]

Not oil. Dish soap

[@troyyarbrough]

@@marcs3982 Dawn would make sure they die "grease free" and squeaky-clean. lol

[@techguy1038]

Using water & dish soap will evaporate. Better to use any type of oil & will last longer.

[@luist8868]

Question: How does a black light attract mosquitoes? I thought mosquitoes are attracted by scents such as carbon dioxide?

[@2be1withU]

You are correct. I bought a dynatrap, similar set up even with a TiOxide plate for c02. Did not catch any mosquito. If you want it to really work, probably have to buy the one which uses butane gas to create c02 to trap the mosquito. This only traps moths and lacewings.

[@dzerres]

Absolutely true. He's NOT going to be catching any blood-sucking insects. This thing will kill a lot of beneficial, night flying insects.

[@upyoursassmonkey]

@@2be1withU the traps that burn gas to make co2 don't work very well either, he should of used a mosquito lure such as lurex or octenol.

[@billmetal]

@@upyoursassmonkey Yes! Octenol really does work, especially when fresh.

[@mikeking8059]

I guess this is why we don't get to see it in action

[@virathiyam5401]

Well done.. thanks for sharing this.. Qs. Do you think a regular temperature bulb will attract the mosquitoes as much as the incandescent uv bulb you used?

[@billmetal]

Use Octenol as well. Replace about every 2 weeks during the heavy season. I keep the old one in there too.

[@jordanfolds4288]

You just put it in the bottom on the bucket?

[@jimbrown8031]

it's a year ago. Can you update with a video showing how effective the trap is? It's a lot of work if it doesn't end up catching many skeeters.

[@burtreynolds3143]

mosquito count = 0

[@norstrandathletics]

I have a commercial version (dynatrap) very over priced but very effective. Tons of bugs in the trap, but I can’t see many mosquitoes in the huge pile of bugs. I feed them to our chickens every morning. Since having this the mosquitoes have significantly decreased. Whether by the trap itself or predators having fewer other options, the trap is definitely beneficial. I have a large property, so I want to put up a couple more, but don’t want the $200 price tag. So I’ll be building a couple of these.

[@burtreynolds3143]

@@norstrandathletics because mosquitos are not attracted to that type of light

[@romieuxii]

@@burtreynolds3143 100% correct. CO2 or sweat smell. Use over worn and never laundered socks.

[@CommonCentsRob]

Great video. Very informative. I'm gonna try it out. Sidenote, your background music keeps blasting everyone every time there's no audio. Not sure why that is. Very strange.

[@genecarr4568]

Fantastic idea and project! Really did a good job of presenting the tutorial. I do have one question. The fan has low, medium and high speed selections. Which speed do you find to work the best and not over work the fan motor? Should it be able to run high speed constantly?

[@michaelclueless]

Mosquitoes are slow. I use a similar fan on low to keep them off of me while I sleep; low should be perfect in this device.

[@leisawiley4540]

I'm sad I didn't get to see it actually working... no shot of a net filled with bugs :(

[@bradbrown2168]

I liked how you turned up the music and fast forward parts. Well done!

[@ericredbear425]

I specifically disagree. I wish more creators would assure volumes would stay at similar levels so we don't have to constantly adjust. Especially if I have to turn up the volume just to hear the presenter.

[@psilverz4848]

Instead of screen on the bottom, leave the bottom of the bucket whole and add water with soap. Mosquitos will drown, no chance of escape.

[@david0858too]

What's to keep them from flying right back out as soon as it's unplugged? With soap and water, they can check in, but their not going to check out. Plus, it would be easier and cheaper to build.

[@orooneytoones]

@@david0858too you need the screen to allow the airflow. otherwise the fan would blow the mosquitoes AWAY from the bucket...

[@landservicesandmore8691]

@@orooneytoones I think the screen around the sides allows enough air flow, if the air flow is far enough away from the inlet so as not to push attracted mosquitos away from the inlet. The Water/soap is a nice idea but I also would not want to spill "mosquito-jam" on myself while taking it down and emptying it... and I think you leave it on for long periods of time and the force pressing the skeeters against the screen is probably enough to do them in... any expert replies on this?

[@orooneytoones]

@@landservicesandmore8691 I suspect that the mosquitoes are also going to be smacked by the fan blade as they get sucked through. ;)

[@cecilcooper6210]

Did you knot the wire exiting the lamp to prevent pulling out?

[@GregariousAntithesis]

The most important part you left out, showing how effective it is at the end if say a week with dead bugs.

[@GregariousAntithesis]

Found the other video that showed that after i posted this. It does work effectively

[@j.d.5262]

I read somewhere that UV attracts all but mosquitoes so you end up trapping the useful bugs..

[@Dan-sk2ff]

It apparently only traps the male mosquitoes

[@originaLkomatoast]

A bug zapper might not be the best answer to your mosquito problem. Timothy Frick and Douglas Tallamy from the University of Delaware checked through 14,000 insects killed in six bug zappers in different spots around Newark, Delaware, and found that only 31 were biting gnats or mosquitoes - that's less than one-quarter of one percent. ****The truth is that mosquitoes are not attracted to ultraviolet light in the way that many other insects are,**** making the usual type of bug zapper almost useless in getting rid of them. Worse, the sheer number of non-harmful insects killed by the zappers can take a heavy toll on the ecosystem. home.howstuffworks.com/do-bug-zappers-fight-mosquitoes.htm

[@dennis2376]

@@Dan-sk2ff Unfortunately if that is true then the trap does not work because it is the females that bite you. :)

[@Dan-sk2ff]

@@dennis2376 i am unfortunately very aware of this :p

[@erickamekonapeper4007]

Nice work Brother you’re making your Daughter proud of you. God Bless you and your Family. ❤️🖖🏼🇺🇸

[@wakefieldallan]

The greatest feeling in the world is getting an unexpected gift from your child. My bedroom is filled with their art and I love them all.

[@TheMicsaund]

Why did you remove the front guard on the fan? It appears that it could have remained in-place and then you would have a safer end result and you also wouldn't have to worry about damaging the aluminum blades.

[@larrybolhuis1049]

He did that so the tabs that the front was connected to could be used to mount the fan in the bucket.

[@martyclack8782]

Hi just a tip when wiring a lamp use the underwrighters lab knot. It prevents the short if some one knock over any unit .

[@JustChasingWaterfalls]

I built this 2 years ago to hang in the woods under my treehouse next to a bug zapper. It has run 24/7 and only stopped to clean out the mesh. I live near the coast in Mississippi, and I rarely ever see a single bug of any kind in the acre of woods around the treehouse. It works fantastic. Thanks for the video. P.S. No bugs means no spiders. :)

[@caseyremeysen2552]

You are the best teacher i have ever seen,precise,easy to understand, and no bull or exessive talking.Congratulations

[@dgriffin6074]

Great video but lose the annoying music. The big question, how well does it work? I've seen YT videos that show the Dynatrap, for example, is more of a moth catcher.

[@meanqkie2240]

Music "ah-ahh" very annoying! If you must have music, keep the same soft background as when you are speaking. Constant adjustment is unnecessary, don't want it louder. Everything else is professional quality! Love the children and critters at the end. Bravo!

[@grateful4068]

But how effective is it? I found this via hackaday. Really curious about the results?

[@MrTomswanie]

Also curious about this. What is the catch rate? How does it compare against commerical entities (such as the biogents sentinel trap?). The whole point of building a trap is that it actually catches mosquitoes.

[@memine6456]

Haha, same here, saw it in Hackaday. Please read the comments there, not everyone seems to be convinced.

[@knwpsk]

Check my top-level comment on this question. I think it will work well, based on similar.

[@Arpin_Lusene]

He has another video that show how well this build works. Now, ultra violet fan trap will always be less effective than those traps that use methane gas, just simply because they have better bait than light(which is CO2), they can cover a lot more ground, works well even in place with a lot of light surrounding the trap, and can still work well during the day. But if you want a trap that you can set out there and forget for a long time and has less stuffs to be replaced(the methane gas cylinder for example), he's certainly built that. It's less prone to breaking because it only has a fan and a lamp, and with the huge container, you can not emptied the bucket for a while and there's still space for more mosquito :)

[@almeidadeno]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gou8hIN8hclnidU

[@sallybrandenburg8540]

I almost never leave a comment. But your instructions are so clear and I love how others have commented on the wiring. The only thing I would add is spray painting the buckets somewhere in this process will extend the life of the plastic.

[@texasgemtree]

So true! Buckets do biodegrade! Thanks!

[@P51DDreamer]

Nice build. My only problem is the speaking volume is lower relative to the transition music volume so I constantly had to adjust the volume control to maintain a comfortable listening level.

[@puzzled4163]

Why didn't he line the whole bucket with mesh instead of cutting three pieces of mesh?

[@Deontjie]

Stronger, less work?

[@marsrevolutionary]

The buckets are tapered and would need a large arced piece. Tracing each panel requires no math and takes a lot less time.

[@niceview369]

Dude … you are amazing. Skillz above & beyond. Love watching you

[@la196]

Great idea, great tutorial, great big heart with your attention to your family and pets, and last but not least, great barber!

[@davidwillsofthenorth]

I really like this video for a lot of reasons, especially glad I watched it to the end. My one question / concern is the heat generated by the 60 watt bulb, and you were not as verbally clear about which way the fan should point. Over-all, this is a fantastic video! I think that the electrician's comments below are really useful, and I am curious to know how well your mosquito trap works because in my area, the bugs are so big, they have landing lights under their bellies!! Cheers! David

[@jakeblanton6853]

It's pretty obvious that the fan is blowing towards the bottom... That's also why he doesn't need the front guard on the fan (since it is facing the bottom bucket).

[@steveandjenny149]

So....did you really make one?!

[@patmcbride9853]

UV is not that effective for skeeters. The heat from the incandescent filament would be helpful though.

[@moss8448]

yeah these skeeters in the South ignore black light

[@troyyarbrough]

@@moss8448 Yep. I'm in Texas and the skeeters here like our porch light. Just plain white CFL bulb.

[@moss8448]

@@troyyarbrough have tried em all, except the expensive propane tank deals and nothing in mid-So.Carolina works at all; the UV only kills moths in this neck of the woods and a few flies.

[@moss8448]

even bought some smell stuff(bait) to attract the damn things only to find out it was for Northern climes and the Southern stuff was a no go too. All those Coke liter bottle deals, u name it I've tried it 😞

[@MrMcGribble]

Either you have been doing this for a while and have developed a comfortability in front of the camera, or you are being overly modest. This was probably the most thorough and easy to follow DIY I have ever seen in my life! This is coming from someone who watches A LOT of DIY stuff. I immediately subscribed!

[@joethecounselor]

Inspiring, clear, and informative enough. We've got our new weekend project!

[@n9vmo]

Great idea and your other video showing how well it works it great also but one suggestion, write down all of the measurements and directions and include them in the description because while yes I think your video is great, I don't want to have to watch it eleventy billion times to build this and I don't want to run the risk of KZbin pulling it for whatever reason.

[@hawkins561]

Great idea. I did watch eleventy billion and then some to complete mine. Measuring took the longest.

[@sarasandoval771]

I want the danged things to fry when they get sucked in.🤔

[@Blue_Collar_Hunter]

Doesn’t work for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted to co2 not black lights.

[@eudaenomic]

Thanks for the great idea. I'm waiting for the 55 Gal drum version. Also, I would slit and peel back the fan cord and join it to the light so I'd only have one cord coming out.

[@mikebond6328]

Awesome. The latch is a touch of genius. Great video.

[@Eli-ry3xg]

Can we get actual footage of you catching disco willie.... for educational purposes of course 🙃

[@sdspivey]

A 60W bulb is going to cause the plastic to soften to the point where the lamp may fall onto the fan and allow the wires to contact the metal. You then either have a tripped breaker, which is OK, or a fire, which is not. Those lamps are not generally rated for multi-strand wires, only solid, so the connection may not be secure. Mosquitoes climb through that screen all the time. You need mosquito netting, which is finer, but may not allow the airflow that this needs. Mosquitoes are not attracted to heat, they seek out CO2. This is going to trap a lot of moths, but few mosquitoes. Also, hot glue is not going to stick well to the HDPE of the bucket and will soon break loose. Not a safety problem, but having a piece of screen pushed through the hole is going to just let out many of your captures. Why wouldn't you just use a piece large enough to circle the whole inside of the bucket? I think you made this and posted the video the same day, without any testing or forethought.

[@cilismoniker7322]

I've a friend who is an entomologist, you're incorrect on several points. Mosquitos investigate sources of heat less than 4' away, as they actually do have heat-sensing bodies that act like heat vision for them. Granted, a CFL can be used to make more than enough heat and there isn't a need for a conventional bulb here. Either way, the airflow around the light itself from the fan keeps it cool enough not to soften anything. The design can be improved with nuts and bolts to hold the lamp up, and hot glue, silicon or RTV silicon as sealants around said bolts. Anyone DIYing this can add an in-line fuse to resolve concerns about causing a fire. The screen is dense enough to stop adult mosquitos, and that will eventually lead to a disruption in their life cycle as the weeks go by. What I've noticed through personal use is that they'll get caught, die, and shrink from dehydration over a few days. The mummified corpses fall through, but not the live adults. Hot glue actually sticks to HDPE adequately for this task. I dropped my trap and punched a hole through my screen. None of the screen broke or tore loose from the glue and the bucket. There's something to be said for obsessively overbuilding something but this ain't it chief. Co2 can be provided just like lactic acid, through some basic desire to learn and build... It's pretty easy to learn yeast and yogurt will give you the Co2 and lactic acid scents you want to attract mosquitos. With those nearby, this trap is a monster.

[@jordanfolds4288]

@@cilismoniker7322 i made a yeast sugar mixture for mine in a bottle with holes drilled in the lid. Where do you think I should put them? I have them sitting on the lid currently

[@terrycureton2042]

Excellent and ingenious design and video on how to build it. I particularly liked your closing comments. Pls keep doing these!

[@Squarehead45]

This is not his first Rodeo in Making these Vids. This I like. Keep up the good work

[@cliffjohnson2273]

$40.00 for the parts and $800 for the tools. And no proof it works. Oh, where was your daughter in the build, since you mention she built that for you. I like to see kids working with the parents, helping build things?

[@RustyNail5856]

A Great idea. Thank's for sharing. great voice, you sound like a salesman or a narrator. and loved the end..

[@MtnBadger]

It would be very easy to incorporate an electrocution circuit such as in a traditional "Bug Zapper" inside the screened area to actually kill the little bastards which will escape the minute it loses power (or you turn it off). Having them trapped is one thing, keeping them trapped is another. You could disassemble a commercially available (residential) Zapper and fit the killer unit, no problem. This takes you from a "trap" to a fan-forced, electrocution station. Then, if you want to get to the level of the several hundred dollar units, design a CO2 producing element which further attracts mosquitoes. People don't have black lights stuck in their noses but, we do produce CO2, which is how they find us and how the military and expensive civilian units work. For about $100 you can have a unit that would cost $350 to buy. A couple of those would cover quite a large area. Good stuff!!

[@mrfrankbosh]

Love the animal introductions, great! Appreciate the blanket info and extra effort. Great video thank you.

[@Adventures-Nature]

Add a little little container of vinegar and egg shells, secure somewhere around the light. The mixture will make CO2 and attract mosquitoes.

[@janetora]

I just built one today! It's hanging and running with no fires, haha! Thank you so much for this video!

[@jackdaniels2905]

How well did it work?

[@JosePerez-nz4bl]

Brilliant man. Funny, direct and easy to follow. Humorous and charismatic are truly a winning combination, great job man.

[@sofializzy4519]

Necessity is the mother of invention! Love your creativity!

[@hankspooner9023]

I needed you teaching me at school buddy. I would have been a DR. now.

[@terrypetersen9976]

Thank you for being so concise regards to explaining things without being a blabbermouth

[@BoredMonkey-xj7qt]

I’m glad you start your channel. I miss the king of random Grant Thompson. That channel used to film lots of useful projects. Then the kids took over and destroyed the channel.

[@shelly936]

Loving your channel! This Nerdy stuff is right up my alley! I'm always looking for ways to improve/ make things more efficient. Keep it up!

[@davidcarr286]

This is going to be my next project! Thank you. The wife thanks you. By the way you did a great job on this, it was easy to understand.

[@sneakydemon1198]

did you end up making this project if so how well did it work?

[@GaryHulsey]

I thought your presentation was great. It was very informative , light and professional. You could very easily make it into a profession. Good luck you have enjoyable videos with good ideas. Thanks For your time Gary