SkeeterSwitch

SkeeterSwitch

Smart CO₂ tank switching for outdoor mosquito traps — that draw biting gnats, too. Never run out mid-session. Weather- and schedule-aware, so the trap runs when bugs bite and saves CO₂ when they don't.

Account is free. Hardware ships separately.

4 things that actually do kill mosquitoes — and what each one misses

Even the proven approaches to kill mosquitoes have their limits.

Dump standing water weekly

Gutters, saucers, toys, tarps. Costs nothing, does more than any spray.

Misses one container and the cycle restarts. Doesn't touch adults already flying.

Where it helps

EPA-registered topicals

DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus on exposed skin.

Protects you, not the yard. Reapply every few hours; kids forget; pets can't wear it.

Where it helps

Bti larval dunks

A bacterium that only kills mosquito larvae. Safe for pets, fish, pollinators.

Only works in standing water you find. Does nothing to adults flying in from next door.

Where it helps

More than a repellent. Population control that works.

Lure mosquitoes with a steady stream of bottled CO₂ and heat, mimicking a mammal they want to bite. Mosquitoes fly to it instead of you and get drawn into the unit by a vacuum fan, where they're quickly killed; a capture net collects them. The manufacturer reports attraction from **up to an acre in calm conditions** (the range collapses in higher wind).

Safe around pets & kids

No pesticide. No spray. The bait is just exhaled-breath chemistry. Dogs, cats, and toddlers can walk right past it.

Spares the local ecosystem

Bees, butterflies, dragonflies, fireflies, and pollinators don't host-seek for CO₂. They ignore the trap. Foggers and zappers kill them by the thousands.

Proven to target mosquitoes & biting flies

Peer-reviewed field trials (Kline, USDA-ARS) report large reductions in landing rates for Aedes, Culex, Anopheles, and biting gnats (midges) — and black flies, which host-seek the same way, get caught incidentally too.

Only works while it's running.

Where SkeeterSwitch fits

We fix the catch. SkeeterSwitch sits between two CO₂ tanks, switches automatically when one runs dry, and warns your phone before the second one does. Your CO₂ trap stays on all season — no missed weekends, no surprise yard full of mosquitoes.

12 things that won't kill your mosquitoes

There are a lot of misconceptions about backyard pest-control solutions. Some don't work. Some make your yard worse.

Bug zappers

Mosquitoes don't hunt UV. In one summer-long study, just 8 of the 13,789 insects a zapper killed were mosquitoes — the rest were non-target bugs.

Why it doesn't work

Citronella candles

Open flame puts out CO₂ and heat — exactly what mosquitoes home in on.

Why it doesn't work

Tiki torches

Same problem as candles, bigger flame. A beacon visible to mosquitoes for 30+ feet.

Why it doesn't work

Fogging & bug bombs

Wipes out bees, butterflies, dragonflies, and the spiders that eat mosquitoes.

Why it doesn't work

Ultrasonic repellers

Apps, wristbands, plug-ins. Cochrane review of 10 trials: zero effect.

Why it doesn't work

Bats & purple martins

Mosquitoes are under 1% of their diet. Martins eat dragonflies (which eat mosquitoes).

Why it doesn't work

Repellent plants

Oil is locked inside the leaves. Sitting next to the plant does nothing.

Why it doesn't work

Garlic, B-vitamins, dryer sheets

Every controlled trial: negative. Diet does not change how mosquitoes find you.

Why it doesn't work

DEET-free 'natural' sprays

DEET has 65+ years of safety data. Natural oils evaporate in 20 minutes.

Why it doesn't work

Timer-based pesticide misters

Spray pyrethroids on a schedule whether mosquitoes are there or not. Same damage as fogging.

Why it doesn't work

Ignoring small standing water

Aedes mosquitoes breed in a bottle cap. Gutters and saucers, not ponds.

Why it doesn't work

'Mosquitoes only bite at dusk'

Aedes aegypti and albopictus are aggressive daytime biters. Sunscreen ≠ safety.

Why it doesn't work

Ready to put one to work?

Set up a free account today. When you're ready for the trap, order it from your dashboard — we handle the schedule, the weather check, and the tank-swap heads-up.

Free to start. Order the trap when you're ready.

Show the research behind these claims