Whether you prefer to do your outdoor entertaining on sunny days or warm nights, there’s one thing that almost everyone can agree on: Getting targeted by an invasion of stinging, chomping insects really bites (no pun intended). Few things ruin a relaxing evening on the deck faster than constantly swatting pests who see your family and guests as an all-you-can-eat buffet.

But bugs aren’t just annoying; they can also be a health hazard. Mosquitoes carry diseases such as West Nile virus. Many people also have allergic reactions to bites, ranging from irritating rashes to severe medical emergencies.

Bug zappers can be an effective defense to keep insects from taking over your space. Here, we’ve laid out some things to keep in mind when looking for your own, followed by our evaluations of the best.