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Head-to-head · Best Mosquito Traps

Mosquito Magnet Patriot Plus MM4200B vs Thermacell E90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

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

Thermacell E90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller comes out ahead by a clear margin (4.0 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about Sitting on a patio or deck tonight with no setup time and no breeding-cycle wait — read the strengths below before deciding.

Mosquito Magnet Patriot Plus MM4200B
Ranked #4 in Best Mosquito Traps
Mosquito Magnet Patriot Plus MM4200B
2 sourcesall derived$399.99as of Aug 1

Real CO2 from propane combustion, rather than a chemistry-mimicked surface, is what sets the Patriot Plus apart among consumer traps, and it is why it kills meaningfully more biting insects than the DynaTrap in serious-infestation yards. Today's Homeowner and MosquitoReviews both report measurable population drops in 7-14 days and a steady-state reduction over the season. Price is the wedge: $506 MSRP plus $25-30/month in propane and octenol refills keeps it niche. On a 1-acre lot in Florida or the coastal South it is the only trap that consistently performs. Multi-season reliability is the recurring concern.

Strengths
  • — Real CO2 emission (from propane combustion) catches 10x more mosquitoes per night than UV-only traps in heavy-infestation yards
  • — 1-acre coverage with a 50-foot AC power cord allows positioning away from outlets
  • — Silent operation no fan whir, no zap, no light pollution at night
Watch-outs
  • — Propane tank ($15-20) plus octenol cartridge (~$12) every 21 days, roughly $25-30/month in refills
  • — Reliability issues commonly reported after 1-2 seasons in Home Depot and Today's Homeowner reviews
  • — $500+ upfront price puts it well above every other option in this lineup
$399.99 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Thermacell E90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
Higher ratedRanked #1 in Best Mosquito Traps
Thermacell E90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
2 sourcesall derived$119as of Jul 15

The Thermacell E90 neither traps nor kills. It warms a metofluthrin-treated puck to raise a 20-foot vapor zone mosquitoes will not fly through, which makes it the fastest way to reclaim a patio for one evening. Family Handyman judged it more effective than bug zappers and longer in range than citronella candles. A 9-hour rechargeable battery covers a full evening and refills work out to roughly $1.50 a night. The catch is that it does nothing about your population problem, and a 5 mph breeze can hollow out the zone.

Strengths
  • — 9-hour rechargeable lithium-ion battery covers most patio evenings on a single charge
  • — 20-foot protection zone establishes in 5-15 minutes with no flame, no spray, and no scent
  • — Refill pucks work out to roughly $1.50 per night of protection, cheaper than running a trap continuously
Watch-outs
  • — Repellent zone collapses in wind above ~5 mph, per multiple reviewer reports
  • — Does not kill mosquitoes or reduce the breeding population it just pushes them out of the protected zone
  • — Refill puck must be replaced every 12 hours of use, adding ongoing cost
$119 · Buy at walmart.comFull 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

Mosquito Magnet Patriot Plus MM4200B

Catches roughly 10x more mosquitoes per night than the DynaTrap DT2000XLPSR in heavy-infestation yards because it emits actual CO2 from propane combustion rather than just titanium-dioxide mimicry. More expensive upfront and ongoing than every other option here, but the only one that targets breeding females specifically. Slower than the Thermacell E90 to deliver protection for an evening but unlike the E90, it actually reduces the population over weeks of operation.

Thermacell E90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller

Unlike the DynaTrap DT2000XLPSR or the Mosquito Magnet Patriot Plus, the E90 does not reduce the mosquito population — it pushes mosquitoes out of a 20-foot vapor zone for as long as it runs. That makes it the immediate-relief complement to the DynaTrap's slow population control rather than a substitute for it. Far quieter than the Flowtron BK-15D, and because it repels rather than electrocutes, far more pollinator-safe than any UV zapper, including the Katchy.

Specs side-by-side

SpecMosquito Magnet Patriot Plus MM4200BThermacell E90 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller
Coverage Area1 acre20-foot protection zone (~315 sq ft)
Trap TypePropane combustion CO2 + octenol attractant + vacuum fanHeat-activated metofluthrin vapor zone (repeller, not trap)
Power SourceAC corded (50 ft cord) + 20 lb propane tankRechargeable lithium-ion battery
Attractant Refill RequiredOctenol cartridge + 20 lb propane every 21 days (~$25-30/month)12-hour metofluthrin puck (~$5, ~$1.50/night)
Catch Bag Capacity3x larger than original Patriot—
Warranty1-year limited1-year limited
TargetsMosquitoes, black flies, midges, no-see-ums—
Operating NoiseSilent (no fan whine, no zapper)—
MaterialMagnet—
Dimensions20.2"L x 15.9"W x 17.2"H—
Battery Life—9 hours per charge
Charge Time—~9 hours via USB-C
Weight—1 lb
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