Mosquitos and other biting pests

[Jamie MP]

Happy new year all!

I'm wondering what you guys use to prevent mosquitos entering the cab during the night in warmer climates, or any remedies as such for the bites, as spring will soon be upon us and I want to be prepared!

The sunroof has a mosquito net but I imagine that more ventilation is neccasary.

Thanks

[Franglais]

Happy new year all!

I'm wondering what you guys use to prevent mosquitos entering the cab during the night in warmer climates, or any remedies as such for the bites, as spring will soon be upon us and I want to be prepared!

The sunroof has a mosquito net but I imagine that more ventilation is neccasary.

Thanks

Dont worry, I`ve been assured that after a while you do become more immune to the bites.



Been at it over 30 years so far, so I expect it`ll take effect any day now.

[Jamie MP]

Happy new year all!

I'm wondering what you guys use to prevent mosquitos entering the cab during the night in warmer climates, or any remedies as such for the bites, as spring will soon be upon us and I want to be prepared!

The sunroof has a mosquito net but I imagine that more ventilation is neccasary.

Thanks

Dont worry, I`ve been assured that after a while you do become more immune to the bites.



Been at it over 30 years so far, so I expect it`ll take effect any day now.

The day after we retire is the day we grow accustomed I guess

[Franglais]

Happen so.

You`ll struggle to avoid all mozzie bites.
I use spray repellents, never found a perfect one though, so use an antihistamine cream asap when bitten.

[OwenMoney]

Happen so.

You`ll struggle to avoid all mozzie bites.
I use spray repellents, never found a perfect one though, so use an antihistamine cream asap when bitten.

A warm spoon on the bite helps if you have no cream . The secret is to kill them before they bite you.

[Gidders]

I find a product called "After Bite" to be useful.A fan agitating the air in your cab sometimes works.Apparently the critters prefer still air.

[Suedehead]

Cant you get them mozzy burners that plug into the fag lighter any more ? Used to give off a repellent via a cardboard looking tablet when it warmed up

[Jamie MP]

Cant you get them mozzy burners that plug into the fag lighter any more ? Used to give off a repellent via a cardboard looking tablet when it warmed up

Yeah, I have awful batteries on this truck at the moment so it's an impossibility, but would have to bulk buy the sheets, as they're expensive per unit in shops.

[dieseldave]

I use a product called 'Jungle.'

It comes as two sprays packed together on a bubble window card.

One is preventative, so apply before your expected encounter.

If you miss a bit, or don't do it soon enough, the other spray provides much needed relief from the itching.

I road tested mine in the Scottish Highlands and in Sweden with great results.

I can't remember where I got it from, but a quick 'Google' should bring it into view.

[the maoster]

Just stay pissed on gin & tonic. Apparently they don’t like the quinine in tonic water. Follow me for more life hacks.

[Suedehead]

Just stay pissed on gin & tonic. Apparently they don’t like the quinine in tonic water. Follow me for more life hacks.

[Wheel Nut]

Eat more garlic and spices, convince the mosquito you are gay and avoid sitting outside in shorts at dusk.

[GS OVERLAND]

Take an antihistamine tablet (Ceterizine, Zirtek etc) every day, you will still get bitten from time to time but your system becomes less sensitive to the bites and there's no reaction, no itching and no scratching, avoiding those nasty inflamed bites that turn in to open sores which attracts the flies........ Trust me, I spent twenty years in the Caribbean and I was working in a damp yard fixing boats. The mozzies were all around my ankles and knees because of the water. Obviously use spray too.
The VapeMat is a great device.

[MarikaMIka]

Happy new year all!
https://seriale.best/
I'm wondering what you guys use to prevent mosquitos entering the cab during the night in warmer climates, or any remedies as such for the bites, as spring will soon be upon us and I want to be prepared!

The sunroof has a mosquito net but I imagine that more ventilation is neccasary.

Thanks

Welcome to the new year. I personally use a mosquito repellent with a high DEET content or turn on an electrical device with a mosquito repellent.

[Newbie 1]

In Italy we used Autan or Autin it works well. Just spray it on your arms and other exposed areas. Thereinafter - don't lick your arm.

I think you can get it on Amazon on the Internet or just Google Autin. I've never been bitten with that stuff on. As mentioned previously I think the UK equivalent is Jungle.

[Hurryup&wait]

https://www.lampa.it/en/articles/39030- ... vice-1224v

This is the type of device I use as even a single Mossie would wreak havoc on me. I think I got mine on Amazon or eBay as it will use both liquid bottle or tablets and I prefer the liquid.

EBay search results. https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from ... +&_sacat=0

The power consumption is negligible in the truck as far as I can see.

Tablets are only about 10p each anyway and I see the tablet only type on sale in many services and truck stops in Europe.

In my experience mossies only seem to come out as dusk falls and really calm down after a few fours of darkness. They don’t seem to like flying in breezy conditions however very shaded dull areas and or stagnant water are always high risk.

So when parked I always plug in my gizmo at dusk, go for dinner and am happy to sleep with my windows fairly open for the night as long as the gizmo is working.

Likewise for holidays, I would never leave home without the 220v versions and I haven’t been bitten for years.

Jungle Formula or Boots equivalent is required for enjoying a few sundowners outdoors forever. I don’t care for the smell or feel of it but risking a bite is not an option for me.

As well as all the good advice already posted I tend to just carry a tube of Hydrocortisone cream because it can help almost all ailments including insect bites.

Apparently anti-histamine tablets are good to make you sleepy if you want to kill 2 birds with one stone.

[ERF-NGC-European]

'Raid' in a blue can kills 'em. But don't stay in the cab until you've ventilated it after the genocide, as it plays havoc with your nervous system

[Simon]

Mossies need stagnant, or at least still water. At the nymph stage (caterpillar) of their life cycle, the nymph hangs from the miniscus (water suface tension) and breathe through their arse. The body trawles for passing food particles. Moving water won't have the needed surface tension.

I studied this, among a lot of other stuff, a long time ago. When I lived in Cyprus, they came round every week or so with smokers. I think the smoke was parafin. Two guys carrying these machines, blowing smoke everywhere, especially into drain covers and anywhere water could collect. The parafin settles on the water, preventing the mossie nymphs from breathing. Fire buckets and the like had to be emptied and refilled at least once a week, daily was preferred.

[Zac_A]

Mosquitoes? Unless you're in an area where there are likely to be Anopheles mosquitos (see link for geographical areas) then they are no more than an annoyance, but far less of an annoyance than the king of biting insects, the scottish midge, who congregate in huge clouds and vitually eat you alive. Now there's something you want to keep out of your cab at all costs!
https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/about/distribution.html

[dieseldave]

If you're in the area of Italy on the A4 between Turin and Novara (other Italian mossie hell-holes are available!) you're going to be eaten alive if you dare to leave a window even slightly open whilst you sleep at certain times of the year. Some parts of Belgium and the Netherlands were also riddled with the mossie pest.

Back in the day (1980s) we used to use a 12V plug-in device called a UFO, which looked like a flying saucer, onto which you'd put a pastrille. Pastrilles were pale blue oblong tablets just like very thick dry pieces of blotting paper.

You'd then be able to have the windows open a bit once you saw some wispy smoke from your UFO. I also used a fan on low speed for cooling myself, but it had the added advantage of wafting the smoke out of the windows and keeping the hoards of little biters at bay.

A tube of Anthisan was also a good investment.

Happy days once you got the job sussed!!