Mosquito help!

[Marina]

I've looked on BBC weather and it was 25-28C for the next week and a half. Tomorrow is still 29C, then on Monday 24C.

 

[Julius]

I've looked on BBC weather and it was 25-28C for the next week and a half. Tomorrow is still 29C, then on Monday 24C.

It will be nice to get some respite from this heat. It seems so relentless. Utility companies are apparently considering emergency plans to have stand pipes to ration water should the heatwave persist through July.

 

[Julius]

So I'm using this now. This actually KILLS mosquitoes. Has no odour whatsoever. It appears to be doing a good job as I've not had any mosquitoes coming in since dusk.

https://www.boots.com/boots-pharmac...VyrztCh2JbgIDEAQYASABEgLR_fD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Earlier on, during daylight hours I used this product (made from eucalyptus and lemongrass) and it was very good at repelling all sorts of things, including houseflies:

https://www.hihouse.co.uk/gillette-...MIo4q8htiQ3AIVypPtCh3n7QoLEAYYASABEgITJPD_BwE

 

[iloveshopping]

Had a bit of drama with this whole mosquito thing today. My order arrived without the plug-in diffuser - just the refill - so I was not best pleased. I telephoned Savers in Stanmore and they had one diffuser left so I went there and bought it. When I opened the box I noticed that the device as the 2-pin EU-style plug fitting so I had to get an adaptor for that. Then I noticed that the liquid was an all-natural product based on eucalyptus and lemongrass (thank goodness not citronella) so now I have one plug-in diffuser and 2 refill bottles - one based on plant extracts and the other based on an odourless insecticide. So in an odd kind of way it's all worked out fine. My plan is to use the natural one during the day. If nothing else, it smells nice and if it helps to deter flies etc that's a bonus. At night time I will change the bottle to the more chemically one so that the insects are killed.

I then called into Lidl on my way back and, as luck would have it, they're doing a special offer on a UV lantern with an electrocution grid inside, so I bought that, and some sticky, twisty trap things.

My 2 pin plug from savers works fine with the conversion plug. I am planning on taking it to Spain anyway.

 

[Julius]

My 2 pin plug from savers works fine with the conversion plug. I am planning on taking it to Spain anyway.

Be sure to be careful with the diffuser. There are many reports of the pins being pushed inside the device when it is plugged in. I like the EU pins and often visit EU countries. I ended up buying the Boots one as it has a 3-pin plug. I think the adaptor I bought for the Xpel device was defective and ended up ruining my diffuser. However at £1.99 I'm not taking it back. It's worth £1.99 just for the bottle of repellent liquid. I'll get another diffuser next time they're in Savers. Enjoy Spain!

 

[Julius]

That plug-in thing has helped enormously. I've also got the Incognito repellent spray. Asda had a special offer on fly-eating plants so I got some of those.

 

[Marina]

That plug-in thing has helped enormously. I've also got the Incognito repellent spray. Asda had a special offer on fly-eating plants so I got some of those.

Seriously, they did??

 

[Julius]

Seriously, they did??

£6 per plant or 2 for £10.

 

[Marina]

£6 per plant or 2 for £10.

I shall go and have a look. What do you feed them in winter when flies are no more?

 

[Akimbo]

Eccles cakes?

 

[Julius]

I shall go and have a look. What do you feed them in winter when flies are no more?

It says in the instruction booklet there is a specialist feeder that can be bought from local garden centres / nurseries.

Asda have 2 types of plant. There are the traditional venus fly traps that look a bit like an eyelid closing, and then there's another type of small-leaved plant which dismembers the fly and grabs hold of it.

 

[Julius]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulb2ET5YvIo

 

[Marina]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulb2ET5YvIo

It's unbelievable how fast they close the 'trap', being a plant! Thanks Julius.

 

[Julius]

I love the way the "eyelashes" / spines of the plant interlock perfectly, ensuring that the insect is caged inside. Such a brilliant and fascinating plant. I can't wait 'til mine catches a fly!

 

[Marina]

I love the way the "eyelashes" / spines of the plant interlock perfectly, ensuring that the insect is caged inside. Such a brilliant and fascinating plant. I can't wait 'til mine catches a fly!

I was thinking that a mosquito would get away from the plant in the video through the gaps in the 'lashes'.

 

[Julius]

I was thinking that a mosquito would get away from the plant in the video through the gaps in the 'lashes'.

I was thinking that, too. The only vids I could fine appeared to be people feeding dead mosquitoes to the plants. However once the lashes close pretty much nothing gets out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCK2Xw-dAVY

WARNING: Anyone who is afraid of spiders may not wish to watch this clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOkD2oFhOOM

 

[Akimbo]

As war-time Chad would say, "Wot no QVC?"

 

[Julius]

IT'S CAUGHT ONE!!! YES!!!!! WOW!!! I can see what looks like a fly wriggling around inside the trap!!! Must have caught it while I was out this morning.

 

[Marina]

IT'S CAUGHT ONE!!! YES!!!!! WOW!!! I can see what looks like a fly wriggling around inside the trap!!! Must have caught it while I was out this morning.

I wish it could catch cockroaches!

 

[Julius]

I wish it could catch cockroaches!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NkxojxaoG0