Mosquitos in the house...

[Deleted User]

...specifically the bathroom/bedrooms. Okay, so I live in the countryside and like the windows left partially open for air but never in the 17+ years that I've lived at this address have the mosquito's been this full-on! I guess I've noticed it more working from home since late March? But some days I'm waking up bit, 4/5 times, all over my body! Before going to sleep sometimes I can hear the female, a very distinctive buzz, flying about and I've been quite successful swatting a few but there are obviously more because I'm still waking up with bites!

I need a strategy. I've tried citronella candles, repellent sprays etc. but I think they've built up a resilience because they keep coming back. Without help my next move will actually be to move  

Doozergirl

You need to find the stagnant water and see if you can get rid of it.  

We had a terrible problem last year and knew it was from next door's jungle/junk yard. 

She moved out at the beginning of lockdown.  We snuck over and knocked over no less than 7 ancient water butts.  This year, nada.  Not one bite.  

I appreciate it might not be that easy in the countryside, but it doesn't have to be a massive source causing the problem.  

twopenny

You and me both! No stagnant water, only one neighbour with a small pond.

Can you get some gauze material and sellotape a piece over the open window? Or make a blind that you can pull over it when you want it open? Like the fly screens in warmer climates (I miss those from my time in Oz.)

I finally caught the little blighter after 4 days and put it out. Still scratching.

I'm thinking that this year while people rave about nature being given free reign during lockdown they aren't thinking of the bugs as well. But they are much worse this year, including the beach sand flies etc.

The only other alternative I can think of is to take in lots of Vit B1, either Marmite or tabs from the health shops. That worked for me when I went to the Amazon. Combined with putting grape oil mixed with citronella and teatree oil drops on my wrists, behind my ears. Even in my hair. May sound extream but so it the annoying buzz and itching.

Ask your pharmacist, the guy at Boots said people burn Menth (mint) chrystals to deter mossies.

Doozergirl

Is it just me that read that people burn crystal
meth to deter mozzies?! 😂😬

Mutton_Geoff

I was wondering what was belonging to the mosquito that was in the house

Apodemus

Mutton_Geoff said:

I was wondering what was belonging to the mosquito that was in the house

Lol! Interestingly though, if you replaced mosquito with "it" or "Fred" then it would be quite correct to say "It's in the house" or "Fred's in the house", so it is potentially Ok in certain circumstances to say "Dog's in the house" or "mosquito's in the house".  It would however imply that the OP had a particular individual mosquito in mind that he is well acquainted with!   

missile

Apodemus said:

 It would however imply that the OP had a particular individual mosquito in mind that he is well acquainted with!    

Blood brothers :-)

kdotdotdotdot

Generally the plug-in repellents work pretty well.  Lemongrass, lavender, mint and so on do absolutely nothing to repel them, despite the endless claims to the contrary. 

They lay their eggs in water - doesn't have to be stagnant, just still (ie: not flowing), and one or two drops will be enough, so it's hard to get rid of them that way, although a good thing to try.  

greyteam1959

Yes I second the plugins.
Use them in Spain one in every room.
Turn them on about 6pm & off at 8am

Apodemus

A third vote for the plugins - as long as we are talking about the ones that you put a little mat into, and not the ones that claim to emit any sort of sonic repellent.

If your mossies are Culex pipiens, they quite often overwinter indoors and come out when least expected in the middle of winter.  For some reason, the mid-winter bites seem much worse than the usual summer ones. 

[Deleted User]

Thanks guys! These plugins - any thoughts on brands etc., I'm not really sure where to start now? Any recommended outlets?

This has been a bad week - I've killed about 7 mozzi's in the bedroom/lounge but am continuing to get bit after the lights go out. I've now got 5 bites along my forehead now, almost in a line, it's embarrassing! If I had to work in an office/facing colleagues or the public, I think I'd go sick at this rate...