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Killing bugs


John E Davies

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What do you use? I am currently using an old school analog device, a plastic swatter, with limited success and it is disgusting.

 

I was thinking about a Bug A Salt but my wife vetoed that pretty quickly.

 

https://www.bugasalt.com

 

How about an electric swatter? Anybody use one? Comments?

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01F3N8A4Q/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&smid=AEPHQXND4EGVF

 

Some reviewers say it just stuns the bigger fliies and pisses them off. That might be unpleasant....

 

Please tell us your war stories.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

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I just use a paper towel and quick reflexes.  We haven't had too much issue with bugs of any sort so far.  I did quickly learn that the porch lights are bug magnets, and if you come and go with them on you'll have a trailer full of little flying things in no time.  I found that an LED strip mounted along the edge of the awning will attract them away from the door and with that we get very few bugs inside, if any.  I have a Lumenoodle but there are plenty of options and I think the awning companies all sell light kits as well.  You can also put the noodle in psychedelic mode and it will repel other campers as well.

 

It also helps that we're fall/winter/spring campers and prefer deserts and mountains to the woods.

 

Last year I sprayed between the hulls and along the edge of the floor before summer storage to keep ants, spiders and such from taking up residence.  I'll probably make that a yearly thing.

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Thanks for the comments. I am too slow to use my hands. I really like your idea of drawing them away from the front door, but I tend to keep a dark campsite and am reluctant to string lights of any kind. Though the ability to repel other campers is a huge bonus that I had not really considered...

 

How about a small residential style 110 volt bug zapper. Hang it from your neighbors trailer and it will draw all the bugs away from your site, to theirs...... Cool.

 

I don’t normally have too much trouble with flying insects, except in spring in the wet mountains (Cascades), when the skeeters hatch out and swarm all day long. I tend to avoid those situations, since I prefer to not be sucked completely dry.

 

John Davies

 

Spokane WA

 

 

SOLD 07/23 "Mouse":  2017 Legacy Elite II Two Beds, Hull Number 218, See my HOW TO threads: https://olivertraveltrailers.com/topic/john-e-davies-how-to-threads-and-tech-articles-links/

Tow Vehicle: 2013 Land Cruiser 200, 32” LT tires, airbags, Safari snorkel, Maggiolina Grand Tour 360 Carbon RTT.

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I changed out my screens to "no see um" type screens:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Mosquito-No-see-um-Netting-Skeeta-Yards/dp/B008TKL214/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1546624942&sr=8-8&keywords=no+see+um+screen

 

This product can be purchased at most Lowe's, Home Depot's, Ace's. etc.

 

Next, I simply don't use many (if any at all) lights at night.

 

I do like Overland's idea but, like John, hate the idea of lighting the campsite.

 

Bill

2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

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I suggest a Bug A Salt for kicks.  Have one, love it.  And camp with someone who tastes better than you.

 

 

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Hull #389.


Options:  Stowage basket, propane connects.


Tow Vehicle: 2007 Ford F250 V-10, 4WD, Crew Cab, Long Bed.  Stock.


Recovering Airstream Owner (The Silver Sieve)...it was a rolling apocalypse.  Fridge was quirky and ruined food (famine).  Had weird electrical problems, circuits with breakers thrown still carried some current (possible fire).  Leaked (flood).  Mildew from leak gave me cold-like symptoms (pestilence).


"Socialist revolutions have a peculiar habit of starting out with a guy dressed in a work shirt and ending up with a guy dressed like Captain Crunch."

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I bet combining the above would be fun and work best:

 

String a set of LED lights in a tree by your neighbor's trailer.  Hang the lights in a circle around a bug zapper, plugged into your neighbor's outdoor outlet.  While wearing full dark cammo, it would be fun to watch in the dark under the cover of the Oliver Shade, armed with a "Lawn and Garden" Bug-A-Salt adapted with night vision sights.  So that my wife can have some fun, we would need an Elucto Electric Bug Zapper hot wired to two 9V (in parallel of course) for any bugs that were blind and unlucky to wander into our Bug Controlled Airspace.

 

Once our batteries run out, we would retreat into Ollie, open wide the window that we had converted the screen to "Mosquito No-see-um Netting" and turn on the Ollie Flying Pest Capture System (AKA, the MaxFan).  After a few minutes, we give the flying bug collection trapped on the MaxFan screen a few spritz of 90% rubbing alcohol to dispatch them directly to Bug Valhalla.   LOL!!!

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TV:  2019 F-150 SuperCrew Lariat, 3.5L EcoBoost, Max Tow, FX-4, Rear Locker      OLLIE:  2018 OE2 Hull 342, Twin Bed.    OLLIE DYI’s:  BB LiFePO4's, Victron 712 Smart, 350 Amp Master Switch, Houghton 3400, Victron Orion DC - DC, 3000-Watt Renogy Inverter, P.D. 60-amp Converter, Frig Dual Exhaust Fans, Kitchen Drawer Straps.    TV DYI’s:  2 5/16" Anderson System, Timken Bearings, Nitto recon’s, Firestone Rear Air Bags, Bilstein 5100’s, Mud Flaps & Weather Tech all.

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p.s.  I do have one of those "electric swatters".  If you have any doubt as to what they do - just go ahead and turn it on and touch the swatter.  Don't ask me how I know this!

 

It probably takes a rather perverse sense of humor, but, there is something about seeing and hearing a mosquito meet her maker on that little swatter thing.  Rather get the mosquito than the mosquito get me.

 

Actually, while camped on the South Carolina beach this past summer, we apparently set up our small Clam shelter over a "nest" of hatching moths.  The first ten minutes or so were spent wildly batting these little suckers into the afterlife.  Perhaps "Mothra" is now out there somewhere looking for me.

 

Bill

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2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

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  • 2 years later...

At my cousin's in Idaho next to some flooded alfalfa fields, so, lots of mosquitos. I think there's a small gap around the screen door where they were getting in. Got some Off repellent spray and used it on the bathroom window screen and the screen door. Almost no mosquito inside Ollie tonight. I'm not a fan of the Off and it is oily and smelly, but it really worked for us tonight. 

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2021 Elite II #841, 2020 GMC Sierra 1500 AT4, 3.0 diesel

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9 hours ago, Cameron said:

At my cousin's in Idaho next to some flooded alfalfa fields, so, lots of mosquitos. I think there's a small gap around the screen door where they were getting in. Got some Off repellent spray and used it on the bathroom window screen and the screen door. Almost no mosquito inside Ollie tonight. I'm not a fan of the Off and it is oily and smelly, but it really worked for us tonight. 

Outdoors we have used the Thermacell and it has been fantastic. It protects a barrier of 15 or 20 feet (depending on model) around the device. We sit it on a table between us and have yet to be bitten. I haven't read if it is ok for indoor use but you might check.  Sam's has them for a good price and I think Amazon and probably most big box store will carry them.

Cindy

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Charlie & Cindy / Cleburne, TX / 2021 Elite II Hull #743 / 2013 Ford F250 Diesel 4WD Supercab

States we've camped in our Oliver:

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On 1/4/2019 at 7:07 AM, topgun2 said:

Next, I simply don't use many (if any at all) lights at night.

Bill

Then how do you catch your 🪰 for fishing?

Mossey

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Mike and Krunch   Lutz, FL  
2017 LEII #193 “the dog house”

 

 

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  • 10 months later...

I hate bugs and they love me.  I have only met a few people in my life (my dad being one of them) where bugs will pick on them instead of me.  One of the first things I did was replace all the screens with no see um screens, but inevitably bugs still get in through the open door, etc.  I chased them around with a fly swatter, had zapper lights (that attract lots more bugs!) and various other methods all mentioned - as well as some that could probably have made America's Funniest Videos. 

One thing I noticed (after wiping up hundreds of splats) is that they tend to fly straight up to the bright white ceiling, so I put some sticky pads up on the ceiling and viola -  I don't get attacked by bugs in the cabin anymore and I don't have to chase them around.

I just replaced mine prior to our last trip, so these are still pretty "clean":

IMG_3272.thumb.jpeg.ecec5da4acc1a88b176677ef25146729.jpegIMG_3273.thumb.jpeg.5f92498e49ed912166c76708b4f44fc0.jpeg

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2020 Elite II, Hull 688 --- 2021 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6L Duramax Diesel

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Wow!

That's some serious sticky pad coverage.  At first I thought that you were trying to compete with Foy & Mirna for some kind of acoustic panels for enhanced decor  of the ceiling.😆

Ever have one of those pads come loose during the night?

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2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

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59 minutes ago, topgun2 said:

Wow!

That's some serious sticky pad coverage.  At first I thought that you were trying to compete with Foy & Mirna for some kind of acoustic panels for enhanced decor  of the ceiling.😆

Ever have one of those pads come loose during the night?

Great question!  🙂  These are sticky on both sides and I did take the backing off and stick them up there thinking no way they'd come down.  However, they did start to come loose on the corners over time - nothing sticks great to the shiny waxed Ollie interior for long!  That's why I use the white tape on the corners - to keep them from coming loose.  So far so good.

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2020 Elite II, Hull 688 --- 2021 Silverado 2500HD, 6.6L Duramax Diesel

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We were camping west of Kansas City one evening next to a lake and made the mistake of leaving the interior lights on with the curb side porch lights on while opening the door. After opening the door, hundreds of Gnats came in Ollie covering part of Ollie's interior wall & ceiling. Took a while to kill the Gnats. Next time we went outside that evening we turned on the street side porch light with the curb side porch lights off to attract the Gnats to the street side of Ollie with all of the interior lights turned off. Did not have Gnat issues when using that strategy opening the door. 🙂

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LE2

 

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Or, if you have a Harbor Freight close you might try one of THESE and save yourself a few bucks.

Whatever you do - DO NOT test these things with your hand, foot or even someone else's body part.  Don't ask me how I know this.🤪

Bill

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2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

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I found these on Amazon . Various colors

 The black would hide the bug carcasses, and we could "pretend" they're decorative.

 

 

Screenshot_20220629-102409_Amazon Shopping.jpg

Screenshot_20220629-102241_Amazon Shopping.jpg

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2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

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Probably wouldn't work with "big hair." (Most of us gave up that style decades ago, though.)

Big hair could become a "sticky situation."

 

Screenshot_20220629-100626_Amazon Shopping.jpg

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2008 Ram 1500 4 × 4

2008 Oliver Elite, Hull #12

Florida and Western North Carolina, or wherever the truck goes....

400 watts solar. DC compressor fridge. No inverter. 2 x 105 ah agm batteries .  Life is good.


        
 

 

 

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30 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:

I found these on Amazon . Various colors

 The black would hide the bug carcasses, and we could "pretend" they're decorative.

I bought some of these for my wife for Christmas.  After a small amount of derision from her (she's the plant person and I'm the hole digger, mulch totter and all around grunt in this regard) she agreed to give them a try - they worked and worked well!  Score one for the husband!🥰

Bill

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2023 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5EB FX4 Max Towing, Max Payload, 2016 Oliver Elite II - Hull #117 "Twist"

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On 8/3/2021 at 8:09 AM, Time2Go! said:

Outdoors we have used the Thermacell and it has been fantastic. It protects a barrier of 15 or 20 feet (depending on model) around the device. We sit it on a table between us and have yet to be bitten. I haven't read if it is ok for indoor use but you might check.  Sam's has them for a good price and I think Amazon and probably most big box store will carry them.

Cindy

I agree with the Thermacells, we have 4 of them and set them up about 6-8 feet apart from each other. One night while sitting in a bug-free zone I shined my flashlight towards the sky and realized that there was a swarm of mosquitos about 7 feet above the ground, completely encircling us but wouldn't come any closer because of the thermacell. Just make sure that it doesn't run out of butane and that you're using a fresh blue pad otherwise you'll just be feeding the flying critters your blood.

The electric zappers shown work ok and are a LOT of fun and YES, DO NOT TOUCH THE ACTIVE PART!!!

 

albert

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Albert & Terri Sterns

Paonia, Colorado

Elite II Hull #1125 Standard Floorplan / 2017 Ford F250 gas

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17 minutes ago, albert60 said:

 Just make sure that it doesn't run out of butane and that you're using a fresh blue pad otherwise you'll just be feeding the flying critters your blood

 

albert

Thermacells are the best!  And the newer ones are rechargeable and use a cartridge rather than a pad. Very simple to use. We keep two in the camper and another 4 at home for patio use!

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MaryBeth
Boulder, CO

2022 Elite II #953
TV: 2021 Ford Expedition Max Platinum, Max Tow Package

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We had an infestation of tiny bugs this spring while camping near a creek…seemed like millions of these tiny critters. I grabbed my hand held vacuum and sucked them up, it worked like a charm. I did empty it outside. My husband came in later and let another batch of them in, his solution was to smear them to death with his dirty t-shirt. The next morning our trailer looked like a crime scene with bloody bug guts smeared all over our white interior. Needless to say, he is no longer in charge of pest control… unless it’s a snake!

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