Abstract: An attractant such as an ultra-violet light is reflected from the trap and insects are thereby attracted and fly through a surrounding mesh to inside the trap. They are then stimulated by a high frequency electro-static field generated by an electronic unit within the trap, to fly towards an electrocuting grid. When an insect enters the grid, a high voltage short duration arc is struck which rapidly heats and dehydrates the insect thus killing same. This can be accomplished either with or without actual contact of the insect across the grid. The arc dissipates a fixed charge generated by the unit so that continuous arcing does not occur. Because of the dehydration effect, the insects drop from the grid and do not stick thereto. The electronic circuit is designed so that if a relatively large insect enters the grid, and the dehydration is not completed by the arc, dielectric heating will occur as a result of the moisture remaining thus completing the dehydration process.