Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
It's the year 2025. We have crispr-cas9, chatgpt, new missions to the Moon and maybe Mars... and yet, it feels like there's no great solution to deal with mosquitoes. Lasers to fry them? magnetic waves to repel them? What's our there that I don't know?
35 comments
Use fans. They don't like flying around in wind and they don't know where to fly to anymore because the fan disperses the CO2 you produce so quickly that there's no gradient for them to follow to the source (you).
The fan has to be very fast for this to work, otherwise the little buggers find pockets and crevasses around you to shelter from the air and then eventually bite.
Get a mosquito net for your bed. Costs nothing and gives you 100% protection when you sleep. No noise or chemical smells. Mosquitos are worst at night, and just one can destroy a full night's sleep. With a net, you won't even mind hearing them buzzing around outside of it.
There’s actually a YC startup that tries to address this question: https://tornyol.com/
The coverage area it promises is up to 5 acres. But with only five minutes of flight time and 30 minutes for every recharge, I don't know how long will it take it to actually do the work it promises.
The solution is definitely cool though. I could pay another small drone to track the movement of tornyol's drone and show me how it tracks and kills the mosquitoes.
The solution is definitely cool though. I could pay another small drone to track the movement of tornyol's drone and show me how it tracks and kills the mosquitoes.
We have effect mosquito control and have had for decades.
We have genetically engineered mosquitoes that breed with wild types that reduce the life span of adult mosquitoes to reduce the spread of disease. We have biological agents that do the same. We have chemicals that stop the larva from developing into adult mosquitos. We have chemicals that can be vaporised to deter mosquitoes. We also have chemicals that you can apply that will stop mosquitoes from biting you (and will melt plastic).
Or just use a fly screen. I built one recently for my awning style window.
Look up thermacell devices and methoprene pelletes
We have genetically engineered mosquitoes that breed with wild types that reduce the life span of adult mosquitoes to reduce the spread of disease. We have biological agents that do the same. We have chemicals that stop the larva from developing into adult mosquitos. We have chemicals that can be vaporised to deter mosquitoes. We also have chemicals that you can apply that will stop mosquitoes from biting you (and will melt plastic).
Or just use a fly screen. I built one recently for my awning style window.
Look up thermacell devices and methoprene pelletes
I am seeing a huge increase in flies this year following the stoppage of the efforts we normally did south of the border. My god the flies. I have fly bags up, they are working, but there are way more flies.
Definitely address any standing water on your property, make sure anything that can collect rain is turned over, covered, or dumped.
I haven't tried this yet, but will next summer:
https://www.northcarolinacharm.com/how-to-kill-mosquito-larv...
I haven't tried this yet, but will next summer:
https://www.northcarolinacharm.com/how-to-kill-mosquito-larv...
I tried this "bucket of doom" approach last summer and if anything it made the problem worse. I was told by someone that at least one of the mosquito species in my area (Southern California) are immune to the mosquito dunks, though I don't know if that's true.
Does the dunk not need to be dissolved in the water to work?
Our mosquito problem wasn't severe, but we had a lot of luck with a simple outdoor plug-in unit. It runs an IR light source to attract them and uses a fan to capture them in a basket. Some more expensive models also use CO2 to attract mosquitos, but I didn't want to deal with bottle replacement. I just plug it in during the spring and put it away once the temp drops below freezing on a regular basis.
We set it up on the opposite side of our yard from where we gather. Even if it's not catching all the mosquitos, it gives them another area to congregate. It seems to work well for our yard and scenario.
We set it up on the opposite side of our yard from where we gather. Even if it's not catching all the mosquitos, it gives them another area to congregate. It seems to work well for our yard and scenario.
Raid or whatever your local product name is that you plug into the electric socket and it evaporates poison which is harmless to you as there is very little of it but it kills them. Some have formulas against flies as well.
Also, if you are in ketosis, your blood is acidic and they hate it as they are attracted mostly to sweet blood. So they won't bite.
But I would definitely pay good money for some laser Tourette system to have in my room that would track movement in infrared with high definition camera and fry those ***. I saw some home made attempts but nothing commercially available - yet.
Also, if you are in ketosis, your blood is acidic and they hate it as they are attracted mostly to sweet blood. So they won't bite.
But I would definitely pay good money for some laser Tourette system to have in my room that would track movement in infrared with high definition camera and fry those ***. I saw some home made attempts but nothing commercially available - yet.
Yeah I was going to say as someone who has spent a while in mosquito prone tropics, a plug in killer indoors - you can turn it off if there are none and windows are closed, and long loose clothes for outside.
Are those pluggeable things safe with cats around?
Yeah I think so. This has a label for a typical one. Say toxic to aquatic life. https://www.boots.com/boots-repel-mosquito-killer-3-pin-plug...
Active ingredient: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prallethrin
Active ingredient: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prallethrin
A cat weights about 4kg on average. A mosquito weights 2 milligrams. The cat would have to drink it in order to get poisoned.
For rooms with closed windows this stuff has in my experience a 100% success rate. (they always manage to get in somehow). Spray the room an hour before bedtime and it eradicates them. Guess it's similar to that stuff they spray on airlines.
It is not a repellent but seems to actively kill them/render them unable to fly [Metofluthrin (Pyrethroid)]
https://www.peacefulsleepsa.co.za/products/in-room-solutions...
It is not a repellent but seems to actively kill them/render them unable to fly [Metofluthrin (Pyrethroid)]
https://www.peacefulsleepsa.co.za/products/in-room-solutions...
Is there any known adverse effect for human health?
I researched that before and I think it's considered generally safe. Toxicity required huge doses.
Though the instructions recommend ventilating the room a little after letting it settle, and I don't use it every night. Also I like to cover pillows before spraying.
It's very similar to the WHO recommended stuff used before and during flights - https://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc243.pdf
Though the instructions recommend ventilating the room a little after letting it settle, and I don't use it every night. Also I like to cover pillows before spraying.
It's very similar to the WHO recommended stuff used before and during flights - https://www.inchem.org/documents/ehc/ehc/ehc243.pdf
I bought my second thermacell this year; electric one this time. Very effective and seemed to have a lingering effect that worked well.
My backup if that hadnt worked. You get a mosquitto outdoor zapper light. You put it on a timer so that it runs ~3-4 hours every night, mainly this is during twilight time. So 2 hours just after sun down, 2 hours before sun up. Every night that it runs, at the end of the season you'll be like 90% less mosquitos.
My backup if that hadnt worked. You get a mosquitto outdoor zapper light. You put it on a timer so that it runs ~3-4 hours every night, mainly this is during twilight time. So 2 hours just after sun down, 2 hours before sun up. Every night that it runs, at the end of the season you'll be like 90% less mosquitos.
My solution is to live in an area with mosquito control: https://mmcd.org/
Fun fact for Twin Cities residents, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District covers the same counties as the Metropolitan Council but was formed over a decade earlier!
When I have to leave comfort of this area and deal with nature, I use DEET spray.
Fun fact for Twin Cities residents, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District covers the same counties as the Metropolitan Council but was formed over a decade earlier!
When I have to leave comfort of this area and deal with nature, I use DEET spray.
Whatever happened to that Microsoft project that would use a lazer to destroy the wings off female mosquitos?
It was a personal project by ex-Microsoft CTO Nathan Myhrvold, a guy who spends insane amount of money for weird/fun projects.
In 2010 he gave a TED Talk about a laser that could kill mosquitoes and therefore "end malaria". AFAIK, the project never worked properly, and it has been dead for a while now.
[0]: https://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_z...
In 2010 he gave a TED Talk about a laser that could kill mosquitoes and therefore "end malaria". AFAIK, the project never worked properly, and it has been dead for a while now.
[0]: https://www.ted.com/talks/nathan_myhrvold_could_this_laser_z...
No idea but let me guess. Consumer safety?
There are some YouTube videos out there where guys attach a screen (or net) to a high powered fan and catch/kill insane amount of mosquitoes.
https://youtu.be/6BhV-o77RqQ
https://youtu.be/6BhV-o77RqQ
repair window screens.
mitigate standing water, even sippie holes, or derelict party cups.
but save your effort if you live near a pond slow stream, or lake.
door discipline, dont keep it open, sweep yourself for piggybackers.
electric mosquito racket.
hunt blood engorged mosquitoes with extreme prejudice. each such kill prevents hundreds more.
door discipline, dont keep it open, sweep yourself for piggybackers.
electric mosquito racket.
hunt blood engorged mosquitoes with extreme prejudice. each such kill prevents hundreds more.
Have kids and give them an electric mosquito racket. They love it.
*it might be cheaper to control mosquitos any other way
*it might be cheaper to control mosquitos any other way
door/window nets and spray
Light up a big fat stogie.
We used a blue light thing to attract and kill insects. It worked to certain extent.
How are things going ? From 2021 "Father with a 13-month old baby and a full-time job, 3/2 split in WFH/WFO." :)
Hi thanks for still remembering me. It has been 4 years and I’m now father with 5-year old :) I’m fortunate enough to always have work.
How’s everything going on your side? I hope it went well.
How’s everything going on your side? I hope it went well.
$5 electric anti-mosquito "tennis" rackets.
I'd install a device if there existed one: say something 2 meters high from the ground that can throw lasers but only on the vertical part of the wall (so above human eye level). A high res camera. Detect mosquito: fire laser.
These little fuckers shall, invariably, fly and land on the upper part of the various walls.
Maybe just a wide (say 2 feet / 60 cm) dual-sided tape: I'd tape happily that to the upper part of the walls in my room. Mosquitoes are bound to land there.
I agree it's insane we're in 2025 and this hasn't been solved yet. The company to solve the mosquito issue is going to be richer than NVidia.
Just invent these things: I'll buy them all. Just as I bought several of these anti-mosquito electric rackets and they're honestly a godsend compared to the "roll a magazine and try to squish the mosquito" from my youth.
I'd install a device if there existed one: say something 2 meters high from the ground that can throw lasers but only on the vertical part of the wall (so above human eye level). A high res camera. Detect mosquito: fire laser.
These little fuckers shall, invariably, fly and land on the upper part of the various walls.
Maybe just a wide (say 2 feet / 60 cm) dual-sided tape: I'd tape happily that to the upper part of the walls in my room. Mosquitoes are bound to land there.
I agree it's insane we're in 2025 and this hasn't been solved yet. The company to solve the mosquito issue is going to be richer than NVidia.
Just invent these things: I'll buy them all. Just as I bought several of these anti-mosquito electric rackets and they're honestly a godsend compared to the "roll a magazine and try to squish the mosquito" from my youth.
Yes. Burn some incense or sage to add a cloaking layer to the air. First walk around like to a ritual and wafe the smoke under ledges or surfaces they like to hide, then let it burn anywhere they accumulate.
Also coconut oil masks the body. As long as you haven’t sweated your smell through your close a light oil topping may buy you several hours of concealment.
Also coconut oil masks the body. As long as you haven’t sweated your smell through your close a light oil topping may buy you several hours of concealment.