Flowtron BK-15D Electronic Insect Killer Review
Zaps everything except mosquitoes
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Verdict: Not Verified
Not VerifiedThe short answer: The Flowtron is well made, hangs anywhere, and crackles all evening with moths and beetles. The mosquitoes, which are what you bought it for, carried on biting us as if it were not there.
- Buy it if
- Someone who enjoys the sound and wants fewer moths around the porch light.
- Skip it if
- Your problem is mosquitoes; they are barely attracted to it.
- Best feature
- Well built, made in the USA, covers a big area with light.
- Biggest annoyance
- Draws harmless and beneficial insects, and mosquitoes ignore the lamp.
- The catch
- Ultraviolet light attracts moths, not the mosquitoes that bite you. In three summer weeks it filled with beetles while we kept slapping our ankles.
- Evaluation
- Tested June to July 2026
- Model
- Flowtron BK-15D
The 20-second verdict
Zaps everything except mosquitoes The Flowtron is well made, hangs anywhere, and crackles all evening with moths and beetles. The mosquitoes, which are what you bought it for, carried on biting us as if it were not there. Best for: Someone who enjoys the sound and wants fewer moths around the porch light. Skip if: Your problem is mosquitoes; they are barely attracted to it.
What we loved, and what annoyed us
What we loved
- Solidly built
- Covers a big area with light
- Easy to clean tray
What annoyed us
- Mosquitoes are barely attracted
- Kills beneficial insects
- Loud, especially near a window
What We Loved
It arrived well packed, hung from a shepherd's hook in ten minutes, and the blue glow is honestly rather pleasant across a lawn. The build is heavier than the plastic zappers we have seen and the tray at the bottom lifts out for emptying. Moths near the back door dropped away.
What Annoyed Us
Three weeks of July evenings and the ankle bites were unchanged. The tray filled with moths, beetles and things we would rather have kept. Every zap is loud and the big ones are startling. The octenol cartridge slot suggests the maker knows light alone is not enough for mosquitoes.
The Catch
Ultraviolet light attracts insects that navigate by light, and mosquitoes find you by breath and warmth. That is not a flaw in this unit; it is the category. It is a moth trap sold as a mosquito solution.
Who it is for
- Reducing moths and beetles near a porch light
- Someone who enjoys the sound
Who should skip it
- Mosquito control
- Anyone who values pollinators
How we evaluated it
- Evaluation period
- Six weeks
- Where
- A suburban back garden near a pond
- What we did with it
- Evening use, emptying the tray, observing bites
- Compared against
- Thermacell E55 and a cheap indoor zapper
- What we looked at
- Insects caught by type, bites reported, noise
- Limitations
- Did not test with the octenol attractant cartridge
- Product source
- Purchased at retail
- Dates
- June 2026 – August 2026
Read how we evaluate products and our editorial standards.
Performance
Catches large numbers of insects, almost none of them mosquitoes. Noise is constant on warm evenings. Build quality is good and nothing has failed.
Ease of use, design, and build quality
Ease of use
Hang it, plug it in, empty the tray. Nothing else to do.
Design and build quality
A black plastic lantern with a UV bulb inside a grid, about the size of a bird feeder.
Privacy and connectivity
No app, no account, nothing to connect.
Safety notes
High-voltage grid behind a guard; keep children from poking at it and unplug before cleaning.
Cleaning, maintenance, and ongoing costs
Empty the tray, brush the grid with the power off, replace the bulb yearly.
What it keeps costing you
| Consumables | UV bulbs and optional attractant cartridges |
|---|---|
| Expected life | Many years |
Value
It is well made and does not do the job most people buy it for. The money is better spent on a repeller or treated clothing.
Alternatives
Thermacell E55 protects a still patio without killing anything else.
Sawyer Permethrin on clothing stops bites where the zapper cannot.
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Specifications
| Brand / model | Flowtron BK-15D |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Up to 1/2 acre (manufacturer states) |
| Bulb | 15W UV |
| Grid | 5,600 volts (manufacturer states) |
| Power | Corded, outdoor |
| Attractant | Octenol cartridge slot |
| Mounting | Hang or bracket |
Only specifications that affect the buying decision are listed. Figures marked “manufacturer states” are the maker's claims, not our measurements.
Warranty and returns
Manufacturer states a limited warranty; returns are set by the retailer.
Reader questions
Does the octenol cartridge help?
Is it loud?
Final verdict
Verdict: Not Verified
Not VerifiedNot verified. A fine moth trap that will not fix your mosquito problem.
- Best for
- Someone who enjoys the sound and wants fewer moths around the porch light.
- Skip if
- Your problem is mosquitoes; they are barely attracted to it.
- Main strength
- Well built, made in the USA, covers a big area with light.
- Main weakness
- Draws harmless and beneficial insects, and mosquitoes ignore the lamp.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. That never changes our verdict.
Update and correction history
- Published.Why: Initial evaluation.Verdict unchanged
See something wrong? Request a correction.
As an Amazon Associate, Karen Verified earns from qualifying purchases. If you buy through links on this site we may receive a commission. You do not pay more because of this. Affiliate relationships do not determine which products we evaluate, recommend, criticize, or reject. Brands cannot buy a Karen Verified verdict. Full affiliate disclosure. Photographs on this page illustrate the product in use and are not test evidence; see our image policy.