# Electric fly swatter **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 27, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884 "2015-10-27T17:49:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/1 "2015-10-27T17:49:44Z")
On a whim, I bought an [electric fly swatter](http://www.harborfreight.com/electronic-fly-swatter-40122.html). It was only four bucks, so why not? A wasp was flying around the living room. As soon as the swatter hit it, it stopped – with a little sizzle. Now, I’m not going to go round looking for things to kill; but it’s a lot easier than waiting pests to light on a flat surface so I can get to them with the old-fashioned swatter. Naturally, once I got the electric swatter flying insects disappeared from the house. That wasp should have taken the lead. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/2 "2015-10-27T18:32:14Z")
The wasp stopped and sizzled, or the swatter stopped and sizzled? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/3 "2015-10-27T18:35:30Z")
There’s also the [insect shotgun](http://bugasalt.com/pages/how-gun-works). More expensive but for them what likes firearms… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/4 "2015-10-27T18:36:21Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > The wasp stopped and sizzled, or the swatter stopped and sizzled? The wasp. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/5 "2015-10-27T18:38:23Z")
Ah, it didn’t get it. I thought it was some kind of spring-loaded kinetic weapon, but it’s more of a mobile electric fence, right? ---
**Author:** ![Renee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/renee/32/287_2.png) [@Renee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Renee)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/6 "2015-10-27T19:13:04Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There’s also the [insect shotgun](http://bugasalt.com/pages/how-gun-works). More expensive but for them what likes firearms… > > 😃 OK, this is new. Anyone used one? It seems like it would be really hard to hit flies with it. But my husband would love it if it works at all. He loves his electric swatter, but this looks even better. How much salt gets all over the place? ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/7 "2015-10-27T19:17:10Z")
I wonder if one of those Star Trek model phasers fitted with a Blu-Ray diode would sizzle an insect in flight? I’ve seen videos of them popping balloons. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/8 "2015-10-27T19:23:21Z")
> [@Renee](#): > > OK, this is new. Anyone used one? It seems like it would be really hard to hit flies with it. But my husband would love it if it works at all. He loves his electric swatter, but this looks even better. How much salt gets all over the place? There’s a shot in that video showing the dispersal pattern after it’s fired at a piece of aluminum foil from maybe … six inches? … away. It actually looks like it would work. Damn pricey for an air rifle, though. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/9 "2015-10-27T21:14:14Z")
I’ve had one for a few years. Bought it when it was on Kickstarter. Works very well on flys and fly sized insects. Does not work on those gigantic horse flys , nor on wasps and hornets. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/10 "2015-10-27T21:28:14Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > Works very well on flys and fly sized insects. Does not work on those gigantic horse flys , nor on wasps and hornets. The wasp was larger than a house fly – probably more horsefly size. I haven’t attempted gnats or fruit flies. ---
**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2015, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/11 "2015-10-27T21:39:03Z")
You can find videos of people using the electric flyswatters with slow motion cameras and you can see the bugs explode as their internal fluids boil. It’s pretty cool. Enjoy, Steven ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/12 "2015-10-28T00:08:59Z")
Keep fingers and tongues away from the metal when on. They do pack a sting. Well, I don’t know about the tongues. Fingers, yes! ---
**Author:** ![Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ba8739/32.png) [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Backwater_Under_Duck)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/13 "2015-10-28T00:49:58Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I’ve had one for a few years. Bought it when it was on Kickstarter. > > Works very well on flys and fly sized insects. Does not work on those gigantic horse flys , nor on wasps and hornets. The hell you say. We were using one on my BIL’s boat and frying some pretty substantial siders. ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/14 "2015-10-28T02:23:05Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > I wonder if one of those Star Trek model phasers fitted with a Blu-Ray diode would sizzle an insect in flight? I’ve seen videos of them popping balloons. Mosquito laser! [http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/using-lasers-to-zap-mosquitoes/?\_r=0](http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/12/using-lasers-to-zap-mosquitoes/?_r=0) ---
**Author:** ![stui\_magpie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stui_magpie/32/11010_2.png) [@stui\_magpie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stui_magpie)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/15 "2015-10-28T02:47:39Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > There’s also the [insect shotgun](http://bugasalt.com/pages/how-gun-works). More expensive but for them what likes firearms… > > 😃 Dunno about having salt all round the house but that would be great for tequila parties. One shot of salt coming up. 🆒 As far as the electric fly swatter goes, I’ve got one that runs on 2 sized D batteries. It will fry a bee or wasp, makes short work of flies, mozzies and pantry moths. ---
**Author:** ![Mudshark](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f04885/32.png) [@Mudshark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mudshark)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/16 "2015-10-28T07:12:19Z")
My brother had an electric fly swatter. He and his friends spent a good hour hitting each other with it, and daring each other to stick their balls on it. I love the one I have, it’s great for bees and wasps. ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/17 "2015-10-28T07:52:28Z")
> [@Mtgman](#): > > You can find videos of people using the electric flyswatters with slow motion cameras and you can see the bugs explode as their internal fluids boil. It’s pretty cool. It’s cruel to post something like that and not provide a link! So I looked it up and [did the work for you](https://youtu.be/oUJLgKkmllA?t=35s). (I also enjoyed the comment “#BlackFliesMatter”) ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/18 "2015-10-28T16:35:18Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I’ve had one for a few years. Bought it when it was on Kickstarter. > > Works very well on flys and fly sized insects. Does not work on those gigantic horse flys , nor on wasps and hornets. Kickstarter? These things have been around for years! They’re great for clearing mosquitos from a room. Just waltz around the room, swishing the “racket” hither and yon, as if you were trying to catch a butterfly in a net. The ones I have cost about $3 and have an internal lithium cell. The handle has retractable prongs that you can plug directly into an outlet. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/19 "2015-10-28T17:16:59Z")
Our electric swatter has been great for getting moth larvae off the ceiling. And a millipede. > [@GaryM](#): > > I’ve had one for a few years. Bought it when it was on Kickstarter. > > Works very well on flys and fly sized insects. Does not work on those gigantic horse flys , nor on wasps and hornets. > [@Backwater\_Under\_Duck](#): > > The hell you say. We were using one on my BIL’s boat and frying some pretty substantial siders. > [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](#): > > Kickstarter? These things have been around for years! They’re great for clearing mosquitos from a room. Just waltz around the room, swishing the “racket” hither and yon, as if you were trying to catch a butterfly in a net. > > The ones I have cost about $3 and have an internal lithium cell. The handle has retractable prongs that you can plug directly into an outlet. I believe **Gary** was referring to the Bug-a-Salt, not any electric swatter. ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884/20 "2015-10-28T17:49:56Z")
I did not realize that people used such fly swatters for actual insect control. I first became familiar with them as the main component for building [static grass/flocking](http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-make-a-Flocking-or-Static-Grass-Gun-from-a-/) dispensers for use in diorama and other decorating purposes. 5 or 6 dollars worth of parts compared very favorably with prices of over 100.00 (at the time) for a commercial static applicators. Mine works OK for small modeling bases, but I’m thinking of using a negative ion generator to build a more powerful unit for larger area. Manual fly swatters work well enough for real insects (actually more likely shoes, books, magazines or whatnot, as the fly swatter is rarely handy when needed). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/electric-fly-swatter/735884.md?page=2)