bugs in the van.

pudnboof · Newbie

bugs in the van.

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

We have a Hurricane Lamp that we set up on our drop down table next to the vans door and dont use the vans external light.

We burn Citronella oil that you can purchase from the BBQ section of most hardware stores.

Seems to help keeping most bugs out, but not all, plus attracts the bugs away from us when we are sitting outside.

jimricho · Guru

I've noticed fluorescent lights attract significantly more insects then incandescents such as halogens (or plain old fashioned ones). I have no idea how leds fare in this regard and would be interested in any comments.

russhenn · Veteran Member

Hi there, can you tell us brand and model of van????

Happywanderer · The Master

I use the Bunnings flyspray for the bugs. Spray the van out just before locking up. Haven't had problems and the ones already in there have gone by the time I go in and shut the door. Its the Black Flag brand Rapid Kill, Blowfly strength and only costs 3.98 for a 300 g can. A lot cheaper than the supermarkets.
I also bought their citronella coils to burn outside the door but haven't used them yet.

Helena · Guru

We burn the citronella coils outside the van dooe seems to do the trick for us. Helena.

jack biggles · Senior Member

Bugs, everywhere, part of the joys of being in the great outdoors.

Cooked myself up a lovely curry one night. Sitting there eating it & enjoying it, but couldnt work out what the crunchy bits were, tasty nevertheless. Yep, bugs. wink

Sorry, havent been able to counter up a defence to them, not smart enuf, but thought you might like to know that your not alone.

-- Edited by jack biggles on Tuesday 10th of May 2011 10:59:47 AM

Delta18 · Guru

russhenn wrote:
Hi there, can you tell us brand and model of van????

I don't think it matters, they all suffer the problem if there are lights, or bodies inside. biggrin

Father Ted · Senior Member

pudnboof wrote:
Can someone please help with suggestions to keep bugs and dust out of your van. They are driving me nuts at times at night, even thought we close up early and keep the lights out they still get in the van. I had thought about wiping the screens etc with lavender or a similare product. Any suggestions greatly received.

Pudnboof
somewhere in north queensland

For the bugs to get into the van you obviously have a hole or gap somewhere.Also rmember to place plugs insink/wash basins etc.Mossiecoils burning outside the van are a great help.Any kind of light will attract the bloody pests.Large doses of O/P Rum,Red Wine,Cold Beer and the smoke from a medicinal joint all help. Happy camping,lol. One last thing to be aware of and that is the influx of the NSW C.o.c.krpoaches.State of origin time is coming around.

Happywanderer · The Master

I have a wind up window thingee on top of my pop top. It has mesh over it , actually under it when its wound up and open, but I do notice little bugs coming in there so don't leave it open after dark while lights on in the van. It must be a larger mesh than the ones down the side.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Tiny bugs get in thru the fly-wire on the pop-top windows. They arent bities, and a quick spray before bed does the trick. (Leave time for the air to clear though!)

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Father Ted - like your remedies best of all!!!medicinal???????

Esmeralda · Guru

I was in an IGA store in Canberra yesterday and they had light globes that are supposed to not attract bugs, may be worthwhile looking for them. I am going to get a couple before I leave.

-- Edited by Esmeralda on Thursday 12th of May 2011 06:30:30 PM

Happywanderer · The Master

That would be interesting Esmeralda, lights usually attact the bugs. To see some do the reverse, they would be worth having.

gubby · Guru

HW they are basically yellow globes, you can buy the ones marketed for this purpose but they are dearer. They don't repel insects all it is is yellow light doesn't attract them.. smile

pudnboof · Newbie

thanks to you all for your replies, have been able to manage a little better as time goes on, just getting used to them I suppose. We have a jayco destiny poptop, to the person who asked. Have found some good cream from Mackay to rub on our legs and bodies Sandfly repellent made by Kelalan, along with itch & bite relief. Still enjoying travelling, but did not enjoy the mice around Alice Springs and Ularu.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Try the Listerine - in a spray bottle - works on mossies - why not bugs .

pricey43 · Guru

We use a Raid automatic dispenser. Gives a short spray every 15 minutes. Natural ingredient, non toxic. Turn it on late afternoon. Keeps bugs and ants out of the van.

Cruising Granny · Guru

I've been taking a mega B vitamin pill every morning since 1996 when I knew I was heading to the Kimberleys.
Mozzies hover around my ears, which can be annoying, but they hardly ever bite me.
When sandflies do what they do to make my skin sting I just wash it off and the effect is minimised.
We live in Oz, bugs are part of our "lifestyle".
I also use the hurricane lamp with citronella oil burning in it. I don't like mozzie coils much.
Some tiny bugs will penetrate fly screen no matter how small. They're some of the crunchy ones.
You either have to shut the windows and doors or leave the lights off. Some bugs will even come to candle light.
It's a bug's life in Oz.

Gerty Dancer · Guru

jimricho wrote:
I've noticed fluorescent lights attract significantly more insects then incandescents such as halogens (or plain old fashioned ones). I have no idea how leds fare in this regard and would be interested in any comments.

We tested this in a campground this week. We have a 12 volt flouro which is very bright and attracted lots of bugs. Our neighbors LED light, which was about the same size and a little less bright hardly had any bugs around it. Another advantage was that he didnt have to worry about plugging it into the car, as it has its own battery.

An LED light is now on our wish-list.

PS The yellow lights are used in a lot of caravan parks in the amenities blocks, and they dont seem to bring very many bugs.

-- Edited by Gerty Dancer on Monday 4th of July 2011 04:11:57 PM

BushbabyandGumnut · Veteran Member

I have used Listerine,(got that idea from this forum)for mozzies,it works.I bought a mozzie zapper,the sort you put the little pads in and plug into a power point,that works on moths and bugs and I bought yellow globes from IGA about $2-$3 (not the ones from the big supermarkets,they are $11+) and they work too.When the sandflies get me,to stop the itching I run hot water over the "bite" and no more itch!

http://www.nomadsnotes.com/AP.aspx?ID=551&EID=10594211

ChiChi1 · Guru

Gerty, can get LED lights with inbuilt batteries from kmart in Canberra for $4 each. They work well. Have magnets on base so can be attached inside or outside and moved around as needed .

Smokeydk · Guru

LEDs attract bugs ......when I used my campertrailer...all our lights were covered with Cellophane......helped alot