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Post by landydriver on Apr 11, 2014 19:44:02 GMT
Other than a fly swatter what does everyone use to kill beasties... Looking at ebay....seems theres a few options Anyone got a 12v insect killer, the uv light ones that zap the insects. or a 240v uv/zap with invertor ( says 5w ) so shouldn't be hard on the battery. or 12v chemical ones that use tablets. or will I just stick to a tin of fly spray
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Post by campervanannie on Apr 11, 2014 19:49:11 GMT
I don't kill beasties so wouldn't know but I have to ask why?
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Post by n brown on Apr 11, 2014 20:03:28 GMT
because they bite you in the night and usually somewhere bloody annoying like eyelids,lips and knuckles.thats mozzies.if i could find a way of making them suffer a bit before they died,i probably would.european and mediterranean houseflies bite,bit like a red ant sting.what did they bite before you ?maybe dogshit !i've seen people hospitalised quite seriously from spider bites and i've had tick fever ! if it comes in my van without an engraved invitation,it's fair game !
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Post by landydriver on Apr 11, 2014 20:07:11 GMT
The blood suckers dont like me much But the boss (Jean) gets bitten to death and the bites always come up in big sore lumps so every little helps. Shes also heard of some tablets that are also supposed to help ward off mozzies
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Post by n brown on Apr 11, 2014 20:15:45 GMT
you may not believe this but it's true-they sell chemical soaked flat biscuity things called 'pastillias',which are about 40mmx25mm x3mm thick,and are inserted into little heaters you plug into 240v.i recommended these to a guy. next day he told me he'd had real trouble swallowing it as he wasn't sure if he should chew or not ! he wasn't bitten though !
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Post by campervanannie on Apr 11, 2014 20:37:09 GMT
When we went to Scotland a few years back we used Avon skin so soft and burned insence sticks in the doorway of our camper my other half had 1 bite on his arm I had none.
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Post by rodeo(oldlogin) on Apr 11, 2014 20:45:09 GMT
We've been thinking about this problem as well.Usually use the plug in ones if in accomodation, plus mozzie spray on bare skin.But what about in a van?
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Post by ross on Apr 11, 2014 21:29:45 GMT
I got a Royal type 12v UV light zapper for the hold last summer. Took ages to source, and annoyingly you can buy the 240v type for less than the 12v unit. Anyway, works well. UV light not too bright, but I think there is a slight high pitched whine, which is disturbing in a quiet night. We used it for an hour ish at bed time after we had shut the van up for the night, to ensure there are no mossies alive through the night. The bulbs are fragile, so perhaps worth having a spare if you are planning to be away for long periods. In the evening we make do with the repellant & citronella candles. But, I find the smell of these things pleasant for the first 2 mins & then it gets worse & worse. Hence, no smelly stuff in the van. Have tried the sticky citronella spirals in the past, but had to chuck them out the window by half-way through the night due to the smell!
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Post by n brown on Apr 11, 2014 21:38:23 GMT
we used,for years,successfully ,the following.a baked bean can,with a chunk cut out the bottom to allow combustion,with a nightlight inside,and one of those pastillias i mentioned on top. it just needs warming up to give off a smell.it works
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Post by edina on Apr 12, 2014 5:04:59 GMT
When we went to Scotland a few years back we used Avon skin so soft and burned insence sticks in the doorway of our camper my other half had 1 bite on his arm I had none. They usually seem to go for the fairer sex, Annie
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2014 1:05:23 GMT
I react really badly to midge bites - huge lumps - and I seem to have the kind of blood they like so over the years I've tried all sorts. Here are my conclusions...
I've tried a UV electrocutor thing at home with little success. Flies and midges just seemed to avoid it.
Apparently the high pitched whine in some gadgets which is alleged to deter wee beasties has now been reported as not effective.
Most effective midge repellent I ever used was army issue stuff. But it also bleached clothing and burned through plastic so not ideal for regular use. Unless you want a skin peel treatment.
Avon don't know why the green skin so soft has been reported as being an effective insect repellent even after doing tests, but it does contain a small amount of citronella oil which is known to be a good insect repellent.
Any form of smoke deters insects so sit next to a smoker or stand downwind of the BBQ.
I do like the green anti-mossie incense coils, they seem to help.
I dab citronella oil on soft furnishings and carpet in the van, on my clothes,hair, dogs etc and I think that helps. Eucalyptus and tea tree oils are also good insect repellents. They can be used in oil burners so not smoky like incense coils. I cover myself in insect repellent and redo it every few hours. I've given up trying to keep them out of the van and recently bought a net curtain to use as a mossie net over my bed at night. I'll be trialling it this year.
And just before bedtime, I spray fly spray in the van, shut the door and wait 5 mins.
Lavender oil is really good to relieve itching from bites and also those electric shock zapper things.
And taking antihistamine daily helps reduce the irritation of the bites too.
PS. I've heard that eating plenty of Marmite and also garlic makes the blood taste less attractive to midges, I can't confirm or deny this. I eat loads of both but still get bitten. But maybe I'd have been bitten more if I hadn't eaten Marmite and garlic ?
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Post by WindDancer on Apr 14, 2014 7:30:20 GMT
I use a zapper which is battery operated and find it highly effective. I had an ancient 2nd hand one for years then replaced it last year after much searching. I run it for a hour before bedtime. There's no hum from it, and 12v plug is optional extra.
I use Avon skin so soft when outside, and have also got a little gadget that emits a sound. Have found them to be highly effective too.
Protection is a big thing for me as I get bitten that much if I don't use it!
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Post by campervanannie on Apr 14, 2014 9:07:12 GMT
When we went to Scotland a few years back we used Avon skin so soft and burned insence sticks in the doorway of our camper my other half had 1 bite on his arm I had none. They usually seem to go for the fairer sex, Annie Well this one must have been a rogue one so there
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Post by stonedaddy on Apr 14, 2014 12:16:33 GMT
The best way is to train them to SIT. While they are waiting for a tit bit hit them on the head with a hammer. If you miss off to the chemist's for insect bite ointment. Hope this was of help,,,, ermmm perhaps I better go, see ya .. .... Tom ....
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Post by edina on Apr 14, 2014 14:10:31 GMT
Someone told us vitamin B1 tablets would stop mossies biting us, so I bought some.
I bashed it up as small as I could, but could I get the little beggars to eat them – could I eck as like; while I’m trying to force feed one of the wee fellows with tasty B1, his mate is on my neck drinking his supper.
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Apr 14, 2014 17:54:17 GMT
Best thing to do is sit next to Me!!! The little sods LOVE Me! Jo's Family in the 'pines were in stitches...saying 'They Must Prefer White Meat!'
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Post by n brown on Apr 14, 2014 22:37:05 GMT
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Post by rod on Apr 15, 2014 7:28:10 GMT
I think theyre the ones we use in the 240 plug ins.so the plug in gizmo just warms it up a bit? Never thought about how they worked!
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Post by n brown on Apr 15, 2014 12:48:56 GMT
exactly !mind you i did meet a guy who strung some together and wore them round his neck,swore by them !
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 14:31:22 GMT
I do think that the cardboard tablets in the plug in thing work - I used to have one plugged in next to my bed and could sleep with the window open without being bitten.
I'll try the candle method of heating them, in fact, they can sit on top of the upside plant pot ;-) Cheer for the tip Nigel, I'll let you know my conclusions.
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Post by rod on Apr 15, 2014 15:25:46 GMT
Have you got one of those gizmos from Donkeytoo then?
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Post by n brown on Apr 15, 2014 16:36:25 GMT
I do think that the cardboard tablets in the plug in thing work - I used to have one plugged in next to my bed and could sleep with the window open without being bitten. I'll try the candle method of heating them, in fact, they can sit on top of the upside plant pot ;-) Cheer for the tip Nigel, I'll let you know my conclusions. if you can't smell .its not hot enough
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Post by Deleted on Apr 15, 2014 17:19:53 GMT
Have you got one of those gizmos from Donkeytoo then? No, I made mine myself, similar concept (used his idea of more than one pot).I have a small pot inside a medium pot, joined through hole with nut and bolt, which sits on top of a plate warmer I found in a charity shop. The plate warmer is about 6" x 4" box with a tea light holder in the middle and has a metal grid which sits over the top of the box. Ideal. And can also be used for warming a metal cup of water or keeping one pan of food warm whilst cooking something else on a single gas ring (I like things that serve more than one purpose and am always trying to adapt or improve things to suit better or be multifunctional). It works well and is smaller and lighter than Donkey's, therefore easier to store on the move.
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Post by Neva Aglenn on Apr 15, 2014 17:57:33 GMT
Jess, that's genius....I'm now off to raid Jo's 'Special Dinner' Cupboard!!!!!
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Post by n brown on Apr 15, 2014 20:13:34 GMT
sort of by the by.when i was in amsterdam i noticed it was fairly common to have a little metal stand ,240v, that had a bulb the size of a torch bulb in the centre.it didn't feel particularly hot,but kept a teapot or coffee pot piping hot all day if needed . never seen it anywhere else
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Post by landydriver on Apr 16, 2014 18:39:44 GMT
a few thoughts there... I'll check out the chemical thingys...but no candles, 2 dogs with big wafty tails Also dont fancy some thing that whines, dogs might not like it very much!! Better stock up on the good old fly spray. Last year sitting in a layby in France waiting for the tour de france I showed my 6 year old grandson how to kill flys with an elastic band....kept him amused for hours
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Post by n brown on Apr 16, 2014 19:23:50 GMT
i once bought an elastic powered gun that fired a dart with a 4inch diameter swatter on the end,it had string attached so you can lie in bed and shoot the little sods
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2014 0:19:57 GMT
a few thoughts there... I'll check out the chemical thingys...but no candles, 2 dogs with big wafty tails Also dont fancy some thing that whines, dogs might not like it very much!! Better stock up on the good old fly spray. Last year sitting in a layby in France waiting for the tour de france I showed my 6 year old grandson how to kill flys with an elastic band....kept him amused for hours I put my plant pot heater and candles on the metal sink drainer, safely away from 2 wagging tails and one fluffy cat. I also have a couple of small metal candle lanterns on chains with a hook to hang up from a high shelf out of harms way.
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Post by n brown on Apr 22, 2014 10:34:25 GMT
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maiasam
New Member
Posts: 1
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Post by maiasam on Apr 24, 2014 23:03:00 GMT
I have retired recently, but travelled the world with my job. Mosses and gnats are attracted to humans by the smell of your blood. If you overdose slightly on vitamin B tablets, this changes the smell of your blood and make you invisible to the nasties. Trust me it works.
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