Abstract: An electrical detecting circuit using an S.C.R. or an integrated circuit and low voltage detects when an insect bridges a pair of electrodes whereupon entrapping means are activated. The entrapping means can be a trapdoor in the top of a container or an arrangement for applying higher voltage to said electrodes and/or additional electrodes to shock the insect dislodging it into a trap receptacle from which it cannot exit. One series of embodiments are adapted to trap crawling insects while another embodiment is adapted to trap flying insects. The trap works efficiently on cockroaches as well as other insects.