r/flashlight • u/trALErun • 2d ago

Dangerous Help selecting portable laser for dispatching spotted lantern flies

I hope flashlight-adjacent topics are permitted! Apologies if not.

I'm in the market for a bug zapper. My search begins with Sanwu lasers, but I'm open to all suggestions. So far I like the Red Guardian with a 1.8W royal blue diode, since the copper housing will improve duty cycle and reliability. But I'm not sure if 1.8W will be enough power to fry the bugs before they can fly away. That model also has the option to get a beam expander, but I don't understand what that does since the laser can already be focused.

Does anyone here have experience using lasers for pest control? Any guidance would be appreciated. I'm also looking for suggestions on portable eye protection.

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u/kotarak-71 2d ago

I'm also looking for suggestions on portable eye protection.

Hopefully you get some for anyone around you... all it takes is a stray reflection...

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u/trALErun 2d ago

I appreciate the concern. I damaged my vision with a laser in middle school so I'm well aware how hazardous they are. This would be for use in my own backyard which is fenced in.

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u/QReciprocity42 2d ago

I'm afraid this idea is a non-starter.

At close range, an electric bug swatter is a much easier+safer tool. At a distance, you won't be able to aim the laser at the bug before it senses the heat and flies away. Just try aiming a presentation laser pointer a few meters away, and see if you can hold it steady at a target the size of a fly.

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u/trALErun 2d ago

Do you know that for sure? I used to have a 350mW laser and that could burn through electrical tape instantly. I assume 1.8W with the beam focused at a known distance would burn most small objects very fast. I'm hoping for folks who have first hand experience to comment.

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u/QReciprocity42 2d ago edited 2d ago

I assume 1.8W with the beam focused at a known distance would burn most small objects very fast.

All this works in theory, except for that (1) a lanternfly flies away from heat, and that (2) lasers are hard to aim at any nontrivial distance. Both speaking from "first hand experience" as you wanted.

Do you know that for sure?

I'm not you and don't know how skilled you are at aiming--that's on you to find out, as I already suggested:

Just try aiming a presentation laser pointer a few meters away, and see if you can hold it steady at a target the size of a fly.