Chicago, Ill. (MARCH, 2004)—With the warm summer months just around the corner, Hammacher Schlemmer — renowned for its products that combine practicality with innovation — has released a device that employs the latest in technology in disposing of mosquitoes and other biting insects.

The Mosquito Mega-Catch™ is a USDA-tested trap designed to drastically reduce the mosquito population over an entire acre. Easily the best non-propane unit on the market, the environmentally friendly lure keeps mosquitoes away from patios, decks, pools, and lawns.

In suburban test conditions, our trap captured more mosquitoes than other popular tested models. Tests also showed the trap capable of catching as many as 1,200 mosquitoes in a single night, which means consumers can enjoy backyard activities, patio parties, even garden work bug-free without worrying about greasy, temporary lotions.

Since different species of mosquito are attracted to different sights and smells, this unit offers a variety of attractants to lure not only various types of mosquitoes, but sand flies, midges, and other pests as well. The trap uses a strip of octenol to generate a scent that resembles human breath, a strong attractant that can be detected by mosquitoes up to 100 feet away. Since mosquitoes are also attracted to light, a UV bulb glows steadily and LED lights flash with oscillating frequencies determined to coincide with the spectral sensitivities of many mosquito species. When insects get close to the trap, the same patented airflow system that disperses the attractant sucks them inside, where they are collected in a liquid catch pan that is easy and safe to empty.

Consumers can use the trap's LCD control panel to turn the unit on or off, or program it so that it turns on during peak mosquito hours such as mornings and evenings. Able to run for weeks uninterrupted, the unit runs on AC power and is energy efficient. It comes fully assembled, and the all-weather plastic housing ensures long-lasting durability.

Hammacher Schlemmer offers the Mega-Catch at $499.95, with additional octenol lures available for $19.95.

Hammacher Schlemmer is the oldest catalog company in America with a well-deserved reputation for offering unique, problem-solving products that enhance our lives. The company continues its tradition of innovative offerings through its catalog, retail stores in New York and Chicago, and web site (www.hammacher.com).