There are so many things I love about summer, especially since I moved to New York City: block parties, beach days, light-filled summer Fridays celebrated with happy hours (and frozen cocktails, of course). But the pests? They don’t quite make the list — especially when I find them in my apartment. I can deal with the mosquitoes, the spotted lanternflies, and the gnats outside, but in my kitchen? That’s where I draw the line. But last summer I discovered the easiest way to keep my apartment bug-free with zero effort, and it’s given me total peace of mind through this sticky season, too.
What Is the STEM Light Trap?
The STEM Light Trap looks pretty inconspicuous, but it does all the heavy-lifting in my home. I first discovered this gem in the spring of 2024, and I haven’t looked back since. It’s essentially a sticky bug trap that hides behind an opaque shield, and gives a nice soft blue glow, like a subtle nightlight — the opposite of an eyesore.
It works 24/7 to catch flying bugs in my apartment, both big and small. In just the first few weeks, mine caught moths, gnats, aphids, flies, and even an unlucky spider or two. All you have to do is peel off the paper backing on each side of the blue cartridge and stick it into the nook in the device, and it’s ready to be plugged in.
It takes up just one outlet, and you can rotate it up to 90 degrees to fit whatever your space may look like. And despite the light being on at all times, the STEM light trap is totally silent. There’s no humming or buzzing, even when a bug lands on it, and I often forget it’s even there.
I also like to keep one in my bathroom where the humidity (no window or fan, unfortunately), darkness, and the cat litter box really seem to create a dream environment for unwanted critters. Guests always ask me about it, and I like that they have no idea what it is at first, unlike other pest control solutions like fly ribbons or roach motels that show not only what they are, but also what they’ve caught. At less than 4 inches deep, 5 inches wide, and just over 6 inches tall, it’s a discreet way to attract insects naturally with UV light — no chemical insecticide required.
What’s So Great About the STEM Light Trap?
My favorite part? As I noted, it hides each and every dead bug completely out of sight. I’m not going to lie — it’s pretty grossly satisfying to unplug it and take a peek at what’s hiding back there. The trap is odor-free, mess-free, chemical-free, and is safe for pets and kids, which is a major concern of mine when it comes to pest control.
STEM recommends checking your trap every 30 days to see if it’s ready for a replacement cartridge, but in my one-bedroom apartment, it lasted for months — close to a year — before I had to swap out the bug cemetery. Refill cartridges are easy to snap into place (without getting your hands sticky!), and cost just $5.99 for a pack of two. If you’re on the hunt for a quick, simple way to limit flying visitors near your trash can, drain, litter box, or plant collection, look no further.