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Head-to-head · Best Bug Zappers

Black+Decker BDPC941 Bug Zapper vs Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.0). Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer is best for: larger yards with room to hang it well away from the patio. Read the strengths below before deciding.

Black+Decker BDPC941 Bug Zapper
Ranked #4 in Best Bug Zappers
Black+Decker BDPC941 Bug Zapper
1 sourceall derived$29.99as of Oct 11

The Black+Decker BDPC941 is a compact plug-in lantern zapper for indoor or outdoor use that Bob Vila lists at about 625 square feet of coverage. Bob Vila's roundup, which tested six zappers, named it the best bang for the buck: it kills without the usual audible snap, and its tester found the collection tray impressively full after a few hours. In a heavily wooded yard, though, Bob Vila found its dimmer bulb did not draw enough bugs away, and judged it best for smaller bug populations.

Strengths
  • — Kills without an audible snap, per Bob Vila
  • — Collection tray was impressively full after a few hours in Bob Vila's test
  • — Removable tray and included brush make cleaning easy, per Bob Vila
Watch-outs
  • — Dimmer bulb was not enough to draw bugs away in Bob Vila's heavily wooded test area
  • — Bob Vila rates it less effective in heavy bug areas
$29.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Bug Zappers
Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer
1 source$69.99as of Oct 11

The Flowtron BK-40D is a plug-in outdoor lantern zapper with two UV black light bulbs, an electrified grid and a slot for an octenol mosquito lure. Bob Vila's Tony Carrick ran it against five other zappers over several summer nights in rural North Carolina, rated it 9/10 and called it the best of the group at thinning out biting insects. His complaints were the very short power cord, the bright blue light and utilitarian looks, and the fact that it kills beneficial insects along with the biting ones.

Strengths
  • — Rated 9/10 by Bob Vila, which found it out-zapped five other models
  • — Registered kills within minutes of being plugged in, per Bob Vila
  • — Bob Vila found mosquito activity on the patio declined noticeably with it running
Watch-outs
  • — Power cord is less than a foot long; Bob Vila needed a 40-foot extension cord
  • — Bright fluorescent blue light, constant popping and utilitarian looks, per Bob Vila
  • — Kills all flying insects, including beneficial nonbiting ones, Bob Vila notes
$69.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Black+Decker BDPC941 Bug Zapper

Bob Vila lists the Black+Decker BDPC941 Bug Zapper at about 625 square feet of coverage, against up to 1 acre for the Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer, and found it made less of a dent in a heavily wooded yard than brighter fluorescent units. In exchange it is quiet and dim where the Flowtron pops loudly and glows bright blue, and it can be used indoors, which the Flowtron cannot.

Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer

The Flowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer is the only outdoor-only unit on this page and the only one Bob Vila scored in a standalone review. Bob Vila lists its coverage as up to 1 acre, against about 625 square feet for the Black+Decker BDPC941 Bug Zapper, and found the Flowtron far more effective in a heavily wooded yard but much louder and brighter than the near-silent Black+Decker. Its grid is listed at 5,600 volts, double the 2,800 volts of the ASPECTEK Electric Indoor Bug Zapper.

Specs side-by-side

SpecBlack+Decker BDPC941 Bug ZapperFlowtron BK-40D Electronic Insect Killer
ModelBDPC941 (Amazon lists model number BDXPC941)BK-40D (sold at some retailers as BK40DK)
TypePlug-in lantern zapperPlug-in outdoor lantern zapper
SuitabilityIndoors and outdoors—
CoverageUp to 625 square feetUp to 1 acre (manufacturer claim)
Bulb10W UV—
CleaningRemovable insect tray, cleaning brush included—
MountingHanging ring with chain, or flat base—
Light—Two UV black light bulbs, 40W
Grid voltage—5,600 volts
Attractant—Octenol cartridge included
Power source—Corded; standard three-prong outdoor GFCI outlet
Housing—Polycarbonate
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