Getting Rid of Annoying Flying Pests Outside with Dynatrap – Review

I have long had a belief that human’s Hell is also bugs’ Heaven. Not all insects, mind you. Just the one that really, really annoy or scare us. Wasps and mosquitoes are at the top of my list. In fact, my kids are petrified of wasps (I’m still teaching them that bees are ok and necessary for human survival but that is another story.) Spiders are sort of in that purgatory state – good for some things like capturing and eating those bad pests, but bad in other ways, especially spider bites. Let’s just talk about those bad flying bugs that plague my backyard – mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and moths. I’ve been looking for a solution to battle those guys for a long time and I’m not really a huge fan of covering my family’s bodies with bug repellent each and every time that they went out in the backyard. And, since we have a pool, that repellent washes off every time my family goes for a dip. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a device that would attract, capture, and kill those bad pests? Well, there is, and I’m reviewing it here. It’s called the Dynatrap DT2000XL.

According to the product documentation, the Dynatrap DT2000XL boasts of some quite compelling features. And, you have to keep in mind, there are a lot of different types of bug-extermination solutions out there. We all know about bug zappers. These have lights that attract bugs and when they come in contact with some electrified grills, they are instantly zapped by electricity. But with those, you are left with a pile of dead bugs on the ground and you have to endure that constant zapping noise (so much for a tranquil evening). There are also propane-powered solutions that create CO2 which mosquitoes are attracted to and then they are killed in similar ways, most likely by dehydration (like the Dynatrap). And, of course, you can have your yard fogged which kills off bugs with insecticide, but for me, I would rather not introduce more chemicals into the air. It may harm other helpful insects as well. So, I circle back to the Dynatrap and the features.

Dynatrap Features and Functions

There are a few ways the protection is supposed to work:

• UV emitting fluorescent bulbs – these attract insects like moths
• Carbon Dioxide production – this will bring mosquitoes to the trap
• Vacuum fan – once the insects are there, they are sucked into a cage to die

I actually have had some experience with two of those three means, the bulbs and the fan specifically, and I have to say, it worked pretty well. (It was a different product.) What is new to this mix for the Dynatrap is the addition of the CO2 production. The surface of the Dynatrap is coated with TiO2 (Titanium Dioxide). When the Titanium Dioxide comes into contact with Ultraviolet Rays (either naturally from the sun or from the UV bulbs that come with the Dynatrap), a photocatalytic reaction takes place and the TiO2 and organic matter (pulled in by the fan) turns into CO2 and H2O (water). Remember, mosquitoes are attracted to CO2, like when a person or animal exhales. So, essentially the Dynatrap, when it comes in contact with UV rays, “exhales” CO2 to attract mosquitoes to later capture them to die.

This particular Dynatrap model (DT2000XL) is supposed to cover up to 1 acre. Luckily, my backyard is about a fourth of an acre (so I’m probably helping out my neighbors). You can hang it or set it on a flat surface, but it does need a power source (it is not battery powered). Also, common sense dictates that you don’t put it next to where you will be sitting for a couple of reasons. For one, it has a light that may cause issues for people sleeping or if you find the fluorescent lights distracting. And second, the Dynatrap actually attracts flying insects so you will want to locate it away from where you will be sitting.

I placed mine near a power source, slightly elevated but on a flat surface, but away from where all of the action happens in the backyard.

I plugged it in at the beginning of Memorial Day Weekend, to start “clearing the air” so to speak. I decided to just let it run so as to pull things during the day and at night. At the end of the weekend, I had captured quite a few insects (granted, we live in California and not Florida or somewhere where there is a lot of stagnant water around).

Most of the insects I caught were moths (attracted by the blueish light) as well as quite a number of mosquitoes (attracted by the CO2 production). If you feel that you aren’t catching a lot of mosquitoes, you can optionally add some attractant to the Dynatrap. Just remember, it WILL attract more mosquitoes initially. But the end goal is to capture as many as possible.

It’s important to remember, the Dynatrap captures the insects alive. This means that you need to keep the trap part closed, which is does automatically when the fan is off. If you need to empty the trap, I recommend spraying some water through the screen to stop the bugs from flying away. Then you can dump the bugs out of the trap.

The Dynatrap is extremely easy to set up. Just take out of the box and plug it in. There is an on/off switch to power on the lights and the fan. When the fan is on, the trap doors magically open, both sucking insects down into the cage and blowing the trap doors open (while keeping the insects inside). You just need to periodically clean the trap and you may have to replace a bulb after extended use. The manufacturer does recommend just leaving the Dynatrap on 24-hours a day to ensure insects are being attracted night and day.

By the way, if you are looking for a good Father’s Day gift, and your yard is plagued with these flying pests, you might want to pick up a Dynatrap. It does come in multiple sizes based on the size of yard you have. As I mentioned, this particular version, the DT2000XL, covers about 1 acre.

The Dynatrap DT2000XL retails for $209.00 and is also available on Amazon for about $163.27 (as of this writing).

Disclosure Text: I have a material connection because I received a gift, sample of a product or service, and/or monetary compensation for consideration in preparing to review the product/service and write this content. I was/am not expected to return this item or gift after my review period. All opinions within this article are my own and are typically not subject to the editorial review from any 3rd party. Also, some of the links in the post above may be “affiliate” or “advertising” links. These may be automatically created or placed by me manually. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item (sometimes but not necessarily the product or service being reviewed), I will receive a small affiliate or advertising commission. More information can be found on my About page.

HTD says: If you are looking for a way to clear a large yard of those pesky flying pests like months, mosquitoes, wasps, hornets, flies, and more, the Dynatrap DT2000XL may be a great solution for you! With its 3-way protection, you can finally spend quality time outdoors without being bugged…literally!