Job Discussion Forums

[Sunpower]

Anyone have any advice on how to get rid of mosquitos?

My girlfriend and I kill about 70 of the *beep* every night.

It's driving me crazy!

I started covering all of the drains in the house because I thought they were sneaking up through the pipes. But I still have a shit load here again tonight.

I bought one of those tennis racket-like zappers. I spend about an hour or so killing them before going to bed.

Taped up the vents on both the upstairs and downstairs air cons.

Any chemicals or sprays that anyone knows of that would help?

If they're this bad in the winter, It's gonna be a lot worse in the Summer probably.

Thks.

[MissusFish]

I can really empathize-I'm not in Taipei, but I'm pretty near and the mosquitos have come early for us too.
There are two products you can purchase in most grocery stores. One is a incense coil-it doesn't smell good though! They are sold by the box & usually the box will have pictures of mosquitos on them (if you're like me and illiterate and have to go by pics). The other product is essentially the same, but it's electric-it looks like a plastic room freshener. It plugs in and burns(?not sure if that's exactly what happens) some kind of oil. I've seen the incense used mostly outside, and the electric one inside. They don't get all of the mosquitos, but they'll drive a lot away.
I cannot tolerate the fumes/smoke from either product, especially when I'm sleeping. My method now is OFF spray and a mosquito net around my bed. You can get OFF in grocery stores. But I brought my net from home & I'm not sure where to buy them here.

[WorkingVaca]

I use the plug-in device at night--I can't smell a thing but I've always wondered if it's harmful. Of course I can't read the box either so I wouldn't know. I can say that in my experience, whenever I have the plug-in on, the mossies stay away. When it's off, there's always one that creeps in and starts bugging me.

You can find it in a supermarket or convenience store, in the household isle. There are several brands to choose from. Good luck.

[itchy]

You can't get rid of them. Buy mosquito nets for your beds, and just keep swatting during the day. You'll find once you've been in Taiwan for a few months or so that they don't bother you as much (seem to go for the new people). When I first got there they ate me alive. After six months, I'd watch them flying around the living room and they never bothered me.

[EOD]

Ithchy is right about the nets.
It is the oldest and most effective way of stopping them from biting you at night. They look good and work for all insects.

[Sunpower]

Thanks.

My girlfriend got the mosquito net and it helps some.

I laughed when I read Itchy's comment - that they like to go for the new people. I've only been here for 4 months, so I they might still like me!

Thks.

[killian]

in a fix...sleep with the light on. seriously. they find you in the dark (it seems) by sensing your body heat. the light gives off a greater temperature than you, it messes them up and gives you a bite free night (if you can sleep with the light on).

[ebayne]

Don't know about Chinese mosquitos, but I did grow up in the middle of rice country in Arkansas, USA. I don't know that the 'skeeters get tired of you, but your body will adapt to the them. Your histamine response will no longer consider the bites a major threat. Unfortunately, it might take a year or more. It also depends on how homogenous your population of nasties is. Each brand of mosquito has a slightly different "venom."

Of course the critters are famous for carrying all kinds of nastiness - malaria, encephalitis (and if you believe married soldiers, all kinds of STD's... ).

With regards to the light issue, if you can't sleep with one on, try placing an uncovered black (uv) light in an adjacent room. I have heard that this will attract the buggers. Might be worth the price of a light bulb to find out, and if not you will at least have a prop for your next groovy party.

Hopes this helps.

--Eric "I'm not an entymologist, but I did stayt at a Holiday Inn Express last night" Bayne

[itchy]

"the light gives off a greater temperature than you" - unless you're in one of those new energy efficient apartments with the "flicker flicker, buzz buzz" flourecent lights that give off no heat at all. The mosquitos in my appartment loved the television set for some reason. Always went there first, then attacked the people on the couch afterwards.

[EOD]

I also bought one of those electric bug zappers. They are really cheap in Taiwan because they make them here. It has a black light in the middle, surrounded by an electric cage. The mosquitos fly to it and pop when they touch the electrified cage.
I put it in my living room and listened those little blood suckers popping all night. I also use a mosi net and haven't been bit in months.

[itchy]

If you ever have the urge to eat them, consider yourself crazy

[Munchen]

Seems like loads of mosquitoes. Any concern or danger of diseases, i.e., malaria or others caused by mosquitoes in Taiwan?

[sypanda5]

hello...fyi...
i would be considered (relatively) old meat....i've been here for almost two years....and.....i'm STILL the TAGET meat for those damn mosquitos...

for example..even last night....i was at a cafe....sitting outside (right beside the mosquito coil!)...and i STILL got a bunch of bites (maybe 10?) while my friends (who were NOT sitting by the coil) were all fine!!!!!

maybe i should hang out with ppl who are NEW NEW NEW to taiwan...and maybe those damn mosquitos will prefer him/her!
AIYA!

[wix]

[rainyseattle]

anybody know where to get a mosquito net? we have the zapper and the plug-in but a net sounds useful. thanks.