Could none recommend a mosquito killer that works, we need one to use overnight in our PVC. There are lots available on eBay & Amazon but unsure of which one to buy. Having been bitten by midges / mosquitos in France this year despite being plastered in Smidge.
We have a blue light zapper type, cheap but if I could remember its name, I’d tell you not to bother - it couldn’t deal with Oban midges.
You can get plug in chemical tablet ones, we used them in Mallorca self catering, and they worked well - but I wasn’t keen on breathing in something that killed insects.
We had Dutch neighbours on a site up north & they sat outside with a highly scented geranium in a pot - they lifted it to reveal a wide ring of dead midges. Don’t know if that would work for mosquitoes but it’s kinda out of season for buying one to try.
The only issue I have with it is that the flying insects tend to break up into bits on contact; otherwise it is great!
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Have tried numerous ones in France, with varying degrees of success.
Our most successful one died a few years ago, and unfortunately wasn't made anymore, thus we started down the Amazon route of buy and try.
Nearly all the cheaper Amazon ones are made in China and are absolute cr*p.
The tennis racket thing is not much use for mozzies are they are pretty much invisible until it's too late.
You really have to spend a decent ammount of money and get a commercial grade killer.
We had a new one this year, it looks like a table lamp with a brushed alloy front with a wave? design on it, it has a uv bulb behind the front and a large sticky sheet. Was amazed at just what stuck to it, that reminds me I need to order new sheets for it.
If I can find the name of it I will post a link.
The downside of it is there is no zapping noise or that lovely burning smell you get.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Quote: Originally posted by Oswestry Ed on 14/11/2023
Thank you, I'll try one.
They make a bit of noise even when zapping the tiniest flying insects, be warned!
I tend to have bright lights in the kitchen area in the evenings to draw the flying insects to them, and zap them before I am ready to go to bed.
I need to be careful not to let the bits of dead insects land onto the clean dishes, pots and pans etc...
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Tried all sorts of bug deterrents/killers over the years, come to conclusion that some methods work best with certain types of bug and others with different bugs, so no universal solution!
One of the most effective Mozzi solutions I know is a 'John'! - that'll be my mate John, they absolutely love him, he gets bitten to death, after an hour or so he's beginning to resemble the Elephant Man, he's developed so many bad reaction lumps from the bites he truly starts to 'deform'! But benefit is (for us ) that the Mozzis love him so much, they leave the rest of us alone if we stay reasonably close to him (some risk from flailing arms and the language gets extremely ripe!)! So there's your best Mozzi solution, cultivate the friendship/company of someone who is more attractive to Mozzis than you! - unless YOU are one of the Johns of this world, in which case others may be pleased to know you!
I've got a small UV LED/zapper plugged into mains socket in the caravan, and that attracts (kills) all sorts of bugs overnight (when all other lights are out), including Mozzis, so van is pretty bug free if fly screens on windows/vents/door used properly. I've also got a larger battery powered portable one that can sometimes be useful outdoors, but find with all UV types, they need to be the brightest light if going to be truly effective. Both were fairly cheap from Lidl/Aldi on the middle aisle deals.
I've got a electric 'tennis racket' at home which does indeed deal with many bugs in a satisfying and vengeful way (quite a loud crack and waft of smoke!), but not terribly good with Mozzis as they are too stealthy to spot easily! - and it's a pro-active device, YOU'VE got to hunt the bugs!
Used Citronella candles/oil lamps when outside and get very distinct impression they ATTRACT bugs and Mozzis rather than repel!
Be aware of outside electric lanterns/torches, some (fluorescent - if anyone still uses them, and some bluey coloured LED ones) seem to attract more bugs than others, suspect they emit close to UV light that appeals to bugs!
Good old fashioned 'fly papers' can be pretty good, IF you can position them so that you don't walk into them! Hair sticks to them even better than bugs!
Used Jungle Formula bug repellent to great effect on some occasions (choose variety carefully, some contain DEET which damages plastics on contact!), but equally found it pretty much ineffective on others, but take some comfort that others wearing different brands have been equally 'attacked'!
TBH, not sure I've ever found a reliable total solution. Not sure there is one.
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
We use Raid plug in mosquito repellents/killers (with refills) in our caravan, bought in France (cheaper than here) and they seem to be fairly effective inside the van. As for outside, we use a Raid slow-burning spiral thing (aka the snake!), also bought in France, but how much use they are, I can't really say! If it's breezy, we don't bother, as the smoke always comes towards us, however we position it!
I’d forgotten about those green coils. The West Highland midge scoffs at them, even held like a cigarette in my G&T hand. Citronella is only useful for single midges caught in the flame. I like the sound of the sticky paper & light gadget, will look out for the link.
Antihistamine tablets do reduce the lumps.
After suffering ridiculously with mozzie bites again this year - despite using Avon Skin-so-Soft and zappers, and ingesting brewer's yeast tablets daily - I found this stuff works wonders to relieve painful insect bites and stings: . Available in most French supermarkets but not available in the UK, it seems.
Thank you for all replies, lots to ponder. We didn't get attacked by mosquitos on the Loire France last year, but this year they had teeth like piranhas, even worse than Scotland.
Skin So Soft from Avon is a body spray that had been recommended as an mossy repellent.
I bought some to try, however, I found I did not really need it as mossies don't like me for some reasons, which is a good thing.
Something to do with skin chemistry as I seldom get bitten.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
I have been going to France for years and never had any problems with mosquito bites, even whilst everyone around me used to get bitten, then around 3 or 4 years ago, I suddenly became attractive to mosquitoes - which was around the time I gave up drinking beer!!
Went to Vendée in 2022 and didn't see nor hear any mosquitoes but this year was particularly bad, although the majority of my bites this year were in the morning, we have tried pretty much everything to repel them and have had no luck with anything
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Topic: Mosquito killer
via mobile 13/11/2023 at 2:39pm
