pollyanna

Member
Feb 8, 2010
683
0
16
Ubud, Bali
What do you do to reduce mosquitoes? Currently we're living in a homestay where there isn't much breeze and the mozzies are a problem. We are hoping they will be less of a problem when we move into our house where the breeze is almost constant but still I know we'll need to do something to reduce them.
In the latest issue of Bali Advertiser in Cat Wheeler's Greenspeak article she talks about a mosquito machine. Any idea what that is?
 

ronb

Well-Known Member
Aug 14, 2007
2,241
56
48
Ubud, Bali
.......
In the latest issue of Bali Advertiser in Cat Wheeler's Greenspeak article she talks about a mosquito machine. Any idea what that is?
The article says
I was sharing a quiet pot of tea with Kathy last Thursday afternoon when all hell broke loose. At exactly three o’clock the sky darkened, the wind rose and rain began to gust into the patio. Between one sentence and the next, our words were torn out of our mouths and the table we were sitting at was awash with water. I shouted for Wayan, who was ironing in the kitchen, but she couldn’t hear me for the hammer of the rain on the roof. I raised my voice a few decibels, wrapped Kathy in a warm shawl and began to race around unplugging all the electronics, inside the house and out (I’d once had a spectacular modem meltdown during such a storm). I grabbed and wiped dry the laptop, its cable, the lamp, the mosquito machine and my camera and carried them out of harm’s way as the storm gusted through the patio.
So it is electrical - so I would guess one of those "zappers" with the UV light.
 

Vin

Member
Oct 1, 2009
92
0
6
Singapore, Tabanan
Chemical or insecticide fogging is done every 2 weeks in the green areas and drains etc in and around my condo building...as well as most others ....here in Singapore. I have not spotted or been bitten by any...so far.

While in Jakarta...we used to shut all doors and windows from 5 to 8 pm....which in my experience is the worst time for a mosquito invasion. At other times we used Baygon spray once a week and at night all bedrooms had the electric repellents (Mortein and others) which also served the purpose of a night lamp.
 

pollyanna

Member
Feb 8, 2010
683
0
16
Ubud, Bali
Chemical or insecticide fogging is done every 2 weeks in the green areas and drains etc in and around my condo building...as well as most others ....here in Singapore. I have not spotted or been bitten by any...so far.

While in Jakarta...we used to shut all doors and windows from 5 to 8 pm....which in my experience is the worst time for a mosquito invasion. At other times we used Baygon spray once a week and at night all bedrooms had the electric repellents (Mortein and others) which also served the purpose of a night lamp.

I've seen many people using the zappers in the hope of reducing a mosquito problem but from all I've read that doesn't work since mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide given off by mammals during exhalation. The mosquitoes aren't at all attracted to the light. Apparently the lights kill almost everything but mosquitoes including some beneficial insects and also remove a food source for many birds and bats which are helpful in reducing mozzie numbers.

Our house is too open for shutting doors and windows to be of any help. Currently we're using the coils and they work but I don't enjoy the smell and I don't like sleeping with them at night. I don't know what's in them but I wonder if it is unhealthy sleeping with them on a nightly basis.
 

pollyanna

Member
Feb 8, 2010
683
0
16
Ubud, Bali
I've seen many people using the zappers in the hope of reducing a mosquito problem but from all I've read that doesn't work since mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide given off by mammals during exhalation. The mosquitoes aren't at all attracted to the light. Apparently the lights kill almost everything but mosquitoes including some beneficial insects and also remove a food source for many birds and bats which are helpful in reducing mozzie numbers.

Our house is too open for shutting doors and windows to be of any help. Currently we're using the coils and they work but I don't enjoy the smell and I don't like sleeping with them at night. I don't know what's in them but I wonder if it is unhealthy sleeping with them on a nightly basis.
 

Jimbo

Active Member
Jan 11, 2005
2,563
18
38
Manchester and Makassar
I use the tablets on a heater and they work very well. Close door and windows during the dusk and spray with baygon, put the AC on and enjoy......always presuming you can do all of those things :)
 

kayoticlaudia

Member
Mar 10, 2011
110
0
16
Indonesia & Germany
I grew up with those coils and even smuggle them into Europe for those times that I am here. I like the smell of the coils..... ok I know a little strange!

Since those coils cannot be purchased in Germany I am guessing that there is something in there that is not really "healthy".

Here is my list for my guests staying with me in Bali:

- shower in the morning and shower in the evening (before dusk 'cause that is when the mosquitoes are active.
- avoid sweating (sounds stupid - but mosquitoes love the sweaty smell)
- perfumes, smelly fragrances on clothing, aromatic creams etc are good in ATTRACTING mosquitoes. Although in the adverts it is implied that perfumes make us attractive to the opposite sex I don't recommend this in the tropics.
- dark clothing is also an attractant for mosquitoes. So despite what you really feel like doing in Asia dark clothes during the day (cause flies like light clothing) and light clothes after sun down.

AND what really works for me...... the artificial breeze. Mosquitoes don't like a nice breeze and a fan will keep them away.....
 

gilbert de jong

Active Member
Jan 20, 2009
3,198
3
36
Panji, Singaraja.
I've seen many people using the zappers in the hope of reducing a mosquito problem but from all I've read that doesn't work since mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide given off by mammals during exhalation. The mosquitoes aren't at all attracted to the light. Apparently the lights kill almost everything but mosquitoes including some beneficial insects and also remove a food source for many birds and bats which are helpful in reducing mozzie numbers.

Our house is too open for shutting doors and windows to be of any help. Currently we're using the coils and they work but I don't enjoy the smell and I don't like sleeping with them at night. I don't know what's in them but I wonder if it is unhealthy sleeping with them on a nightly basis.

there are lavender smelling ones(purple color), dont buy the jumbo size...they stop burning halfway or so, light them again and 10 minutes later again they stop burning :icon_rolleyes:...no idea why, or if only I have that problem?
 

pollyanna

Member
Feb 8, 2010
683
0
16
Ubud, Bali
there are lavender smelling ones(purple color), dont buy the jumbo size...they stop burning halfway or so, light them again and 10 minutes later again they stop burning :icon_rolleyes:...no idea why, or if only I have that problem?

For anyone living around Ubud (or travelling through) there is a shop on Monkey Forest Road not far from the Main Road on the left going up that sells lovely, artistic holders for the mozzie coils. Don't know the shop name but it's a little modern shop selling arty stuff maybe with soaps in the window.

Gilbert, I don't know why I had the impression that the lavender coils were less effective but based on your recommendation I'm going to try them. I agree with you about the jumbos. They don't work well.

We'll be moving soon and I think I'll use the pads in the electric burner once we're in our house. Here we don't have enough electrical outlets to use them. But then ... in our house we aren't going to have any electricity at all for a while! Well, except for the genset.
 

zoyra

Member
Jun 24, 2010
204
0
16
Bali
For anyone living around Ubud (or travelling through) there is a shop on Monkey Forest Road not far from the Main Road on the left going up that sells lovely, artistic holders for the mozzie coils. Don't know the shop name but it's a little modern shop selling arty stuff maybe with soaps in the window.

Gilbert, I don't know why I had the impression that the lavender coils were less effective but based on your recommendation I'm going to try them. I agree with you about the jumbos. They don't work well.

We'll be moving soon and I think I'll use the pads in the electric burner once we're in our house. Here we don't have enough electrical outlets to use them. But then ... in our house we aren't going to have any electricity at all for a while! Well, except for the genset.

Hi Polly,

I have started using HIT mat (there are other brands available). Seems to work. The smell is kind of a powdery smell. The good thing is that there is no smoke in comparison to the coils. I use the coils outdoors - the lavender ones are okay. But I guess, best is still to use repellent. Sensatia has a good one (you can buy it at Tut Mak), it's called Bug-Off and has a really nice smell. Hope this helps. Btw, your house looks nice...
 

pollyanna

Member
Feb 8, 2010
683
0
16
Ubud, Bali
Hi Polly,

I have started using HIT mat (there are other brands available). Seems to work. The smell is kind of a powdery smell. The good thing is that there is no smoke in comparison to the coils. I use the coils outdoors - the lavender ones are okay. But I guess, best is still to use repellent. Sensatia has a good one (you can buy it at Tut Mak), it's called Bug-Off and has a really nice smell. Hope this helps. Btw, your house looks nice...

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