Mozzie zappers

judithhishon · Newbie

Mozzie zappers

Mike Harding · Guru

I think you'll receive a few different answers :)

I've tried a few over the years and found none to be sufficiently effective and am now back to Aeroguard Tropical Strength and a couple of mozzie coils.

PeterD · Guru

Judith, There are a number of those devices. Some are better than others. Which particular ones were you looking at?

judithhishon · Newbie

Thats the pint not sure was looking in Bunnings gecko was one

Mike Harding · Guru

All the Bunnings Gecko products are 240V it seems; consider how you will power such a device, it can be done in the bush but it is something you should think about before buying.

dogbox · Guru

i did see one that was call BUZZ B GONE that was rechargeable but a lot of questions as to its effectiveness

rgren2 · Guru

We dont have a mozzie zapper, we take a vitamin B Complex tablet every morning, have done so for years, doesnt stop the bites, but it does stop the swelling and itching. It works for some people, others it doesnt, it takes a few weeks to kick in. The tablets are not expensive and can be purchased at supermarkets, we get ours from a discount chemist.

-- Edited by rgren2 on Wednesday 29th of December 2021 10:16:53 AM

PeterD · Guru

If you are bush camping, you could try this one - Gecko Solar and USB Rechargeable Cordless Zapper Lantern.

Are We Lost · Guru

rgren2 wrote:
We dont have a mozzie zapper, we take a vitamin B Complex tablet every morning, have done so for years, doesnt stop the bites, but it does stop the swelling and itching. ............

-- Edited by rgren2 on Wednesday 29th of December 2021 10:16:53 AM

Nor does it stop the mosquito borne viruses, which is my main concern. Having seen first hand (family member) how debilitating and long lasting that can be it's something that I would really prefer to avoid.

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

Vit b tabs 3 days before you leave (and daily after) bushmas tropical strength spray, light coloured clothing in evening, sleeping under a mosquito net and at the times they are really bad go to bed early and read a book.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Try a Thermacell, I have the hand held one, but I recommend you get the screw on version, 1 bottle of gas will last a lot longer then mine, which is only 100ml of gas.

Hylife · Guru

They generally fail miserably in the great outdoors.
The nice UV light actually attracts the bugs from far and wide when there is no other lights.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Hylife wrote:
They generally fail miserably in the great outdoors.
The nice UV light actually attracts the bugs from far and wide when there is no other lights.

Are you say the themacell's don't work, if that is the case, why at a recent camping break, the dog and I, down by a river, where the mossies and sandflies, were, we had 2 other groups camping with in a 100 mtrs. At tea time, these 2 groups were coming over to my site, to cook and eat, as the thermacell, was doing it's job, keeping the bugs at bay. These people were using mossie coils and they were not doing their job. Before I left . these two camping groups , had bought their own thermacell's too. I thought myself that they were glorified mossie coils, they are not that, they definitely work way much better.

judithhishon · Newbie

Thanks

Wannabe nomad · Senior Member

I reckon I might add thermacel to my arsenal

Bobdown · Guru

Just read this on the web, can't add the link sorry. Interesting about the wind,.......... the buggers love me too, the Missus doesn't get touched.

How to avoid mosquito bites

Cover up with long sleeves, pants and covered shoes
Use DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus repellents (essential oils and other plant-based products need to be reapplied more often)
Citronella sticks and candles can help but only if you are sitting close by
Sit near fans mosquitoes can't fly in the wind
Don't bother with sonic devices or repellent wrist bands as they are generally pretty useless
Remove stagnant water in anything from gutters to pot plant drip trays mosquitoes only need a millilitre of water or so to breed in

Rob Driver · Guru

Bicyclecamper wrote:
Hylife wrote:
They generally fail miserably in the great outdoors.
The nice UV light actually attracts the bugs from far and wide when there is no other lights.
Are you say the themacell's don't work, if that is the case, why at a recent camping break, the dog and I, down by a river, where the mossies and sandflies, were, we had 2 other groups camping with in a 100 mtrs. At tea time, these 2 groups were coming over to my site, to cook and eat, as the thermacell, was doing it's job, keeping the bugs at bay. These people were using mossie coils and they were not doing their job. Before I left . these two camping groups , had bought their own thermacell's too. I thought myself that they were glorified mossie coils, they are not that, they definitely work way much better.

BobDown offers some very safe advice above.

The main active ingredient in the Thermacell System is; Allethrin sp.

https://doctor.ndtv.com/news/allethrin-in-mosquito-repellents-is-toxic-1702717

It may pay to comsider your safety before using any chemical without doing thorough research.

-- Edited by Rob Driver on Monday 3rd of January 2022 03:46:02 PM

oldbloke · Guru

Bobdown wrote:
Just read this on the web, can't add the link sorry. Interesting about the wind,.......... the buggers love me too, the Missus doesn't get touched.

How to avoid mosquito bites
Cover up with long sleeves, pants and covered shoes
Use DEET, picaridin, and oil of lemon eucalyptus repellents (essential oils and other plant-based products need to be reapplied more often)
Citronella sticks and candles can help but only if you are sitting close by
Sit near fans mosquitoes can't fly in the wind
Don't bother with sonic devices or repellent wrist bands as they are generally pretty useless
Remove stagnant water in anything from gutters to pot plant drip trays mosquitoes only need a millilitre of water or so to breed in

https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2022-01-03/mosquitoes-why-are-they-attracted-to-some-more-than-others/100662680?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=mail

StewG · Senior Member

I don't know about mozzie repelling devices or UV zappers, but we always carry a tennis racquet style mozzie zapper. it doesn't repel them, but it is sooo much fun destroying the little blighters when they get close enough for me to swipe them! It is a vital piece of equipment to keep in the caravan because mozzies and other small flying bugs seem to go straight through the insect screens and other openings in the van. The screens are never fine enough to stop many tiny insects getting in.

SoloMC · Senior Member

I lived in darwin for 10 years and found the ONLY way was to stay indoors at dusk/dawn.
If you have to be outside, cover up, use DEET based spray and a big floor fan to create enough wind to stop them flying to you. midges cant fly as well as mossies

When I'm on the boat overnight I use thermocells, one at the bow and one at the stern. They only last 4 hrs but you will be aware of this when the little mongrels start sucking your blood.

When fishing in mangroves, I use 80% deet and it works but will melt sunnies and other plastics (no idea what its doing to my body)
An old cane farmer I met in cairns uses a spray that goes onto your clothes, not skin, but stinks like xxxxx
The Vit B has no effect for me but I think it does for others.
forget baby oil etc because it doesnt work other than trap them in a coating of oil
Years ago, I moved to tassie to escape them but they also live there

86GTS · Guru

Our daughter recently paid $89 for one at Bunnings, it doesn't do a thing.

Bicyclecamper · Guru

Did she learn how to use it, plus BCF sell them for less then $65, including spares. because I can tell you it does work, very good for sandflies as well, don't expect a windy day for it or any bug scarer or zapper to work then.