An insect killing system optimized for mosquitoes uses multiple thermal gradients to simulate the breathing and body heat from animals, including human beings and fowl, to attract insects for subsequent electrocution. The system comprises an elongated, generally parallelepiped housing supported upon a lower base. A heating tower shrouded by the housing supports a spaced apart, generally pyramidal roof. Several slits penetrate the base to permit air entry. An internal fan draws air into the base where the air mixes with scents, pheromones, and / or moisture. Mixed air is blown into and through the heating tower. An internal baffle divides the tower interior into separate, spaced apart compartments. A lower compartment houses a heater, and an adjacent upper compartment vents warmed air to atmosphere, creating numerous separate streams of warmed air that, to an insect, emulate human breathing. The baffle restricts air flow to create a pressure differential while ensuring adequate residence time to sufficiently warm the air. Heated air traversing the upper compartment is expelled through a plurality of discharge orifices. The resulting multitude of warm air currents creates an infrared signature emulating human breathing to attract mosquitoes. Additionally, a motorized mechanism provides movement of the apparatus to create motion simulating a living creature, which provides a further attractant to mosquitoes.