8 replies to this topic

[radarcontact]

I'm bugged by bugs.  Living in the Rockies we have every bug out there, and no see ums/midges get through the regular screen on my Hawk.  Last night I was camped near W. Yellowstone, and there must have been hundreds of no see ums hovering around my LEDs.  Fortunately they want the light and not me.

 

Just got done reading a thread on here from a few years back regarding bugs.  Some folks made their own smaller mesh window coverings and put velcro on the edges, so they could stick them right to the velcro on the soft-sided windows.  This seems like a good idea.  Others have rubbed bug spray (not DEET, because it melts screens) on the original screens, with good results.  Would like to try something I can spray directly on the screens without melting them.

 

Any other ideas would be appreciated.  Someone commented about taking the screen off the fan and exhausting the bugs out of the camper, great idea.  Have to try that next time I'm out.

Edited by radarcontact, 01 August 2019 - 02:17 PM.

[craig333]

I'd think Permethrin might work. Not sure though.

[camper rich]

We have replaced our door screen with no-see-um screen from home depot.   My wife sewed up some no-see-um window screens that attach with 1/4" velcro.  We also use a Zap-It rechargable mosquito zapper that is like a ping pong racquet.  I put it up to the LED lights at night and kill every little bug before we go to bed.  Down side is it sounds like lady fingers going off which scares our cat but she is getting used to it

Edited by camper rich, 02 August 2019 - 09:29 PM.

[smlobx]

We have replaced our door screen with no-see-um screen from home depot.   My wife sewed up some no-see-um window screens that attach with 1/4" velcro.  We also use a Zap-It rechargable mosquito zapper that is like a ping pong racquet.  I put it up to the LED lights at night and kill every little bug before we go to bed.  Down side is it sounds like lady fingers going off which scares our cat but she is getting used to it

Please tell me more about those bug zappers.

Do you swat the critters, just hang it up??
I’ve never seen one like that.

[radarcontact]

I'd think Permethrin might work. Not sure though.

 

Thanks for this.  Will give it a try.  

 

Thanks rich for the zapper idea as well.  My wife is going to order one of these.  We ordered some new, finer screen mesh last week, plan on making some window screens to velcro over the existing ones.  Is that what you did?  You mentioned that she 'sewed' the screens .....?

Edited by radarcontact, 03 August 2019 - 03:19 PM.

[klahanie]

X2 on the racket zappers. Thought they were a bit hokey until we asked a fellow camper. Turns out they were right; work pretty for swatting/frying mosquitoes. We just got a cheap one at a DIY store for $5.

 

http://www.wanderthe...1346_208985.jpg

 

As an alternative to a velcro boarder, we hand sewed no see um material directly into the oem mesh. So it it permanent, no worries. Yes it does reduce airflow but that hasn't been a problem where we have camped. We did the works not just the soft wall windows. For the passive roof vent the fabric was edge glued above the screen. For the power vent it was sewed in...

 

http://www.wanderthe...1346_973644.jpg

 

For the rear door  we added to the screen for strength, rather than replace. Even tried to cover the latch cover.

 

http://www.wanderthe...346_1473991.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

[scappoosebrad]

Radar,

we also sewed exterior no seeum covers for all our screened windows... we purchased the yardage from a
Seattle fabric store (ships promptly, inexpensive...not sure of the name, but a search should turn it
up easily)...sewed velcro to edges and left the "sticky side" on the screens until we are "forced" to use them
Then we will mount them around each window on the outside of the camper... assume they will do the job...decided to
wait until noseeums invade our camp spot to mount sticky side of the velcro...

We are heading to BC in a week and may encounter noseeums but it has been cooler up there...but we are prepared
We also burn mosquito coils outside our camper as well... too bad that the absolute best product is no longer
made--Buhach...in the late 90s to 2008, this powder product was used by all of us out in the Alaska bush...too bad
the Seattle company went out of business about 5 years ago...wish I had bought a case of the stuff...in its place
we use the coils...

However I might keep my eyes open for the bug paddles...some used them in AK as well...hope this has helped

Brad

[camper rich]

Please tell me more about those bug zappers.

Do you swat the critters, just hang it up??
I’ve never seen one like that.

Ours is a Zap-It rechargable with a USB.  It cost about $25.  We have another one we bought in Alaska that is battery powered, but prefer the Zap-It.  You just wave it through the air or hold it up by the light where the bugs are and sometimes it seems like it just sucks the bugs in with the electric field.  Sometimes the bugs just burn like a fuse and then pop at the end.  Larger bugs may smoke a little.  We never travel without it.

[MountainSufi]

Howdy from the Brew Pub, radarcontact!

 

Yup, tiny bugs coming thru the screen drove us bananas our last camp @ Teton Park.

 

I researched & got the highest reviewed no-see-um proof netting on Amazon (Ace doesn't carry any; & most brands still let some bugs through; I want zero). I ordered Adfors Pollenguard 36X84". The screen spline to fix it in place was destroyed taking it out. Bringing the friggin' camper door into Ace proved it to be something they had on hand--.165" diameter. Install it with the widest ribs going up, or you'll get added distortion from polarized light.

 

Although Ace sells spline rollers, I'm glad I got one with ball bearings from Amazon, the Senneny Screen Retainer Spline. Squirt WD40 on it to help things out.

 

This screen is DARK. It's so tightly woven not much air will get through. So... I'm just going to put it on the door. At night with lights on, all windows will be closed, with the fan open & blowing out. That should get some air exchange going. When lights go out for sleeping, open up the windows. 

 

YouTube has vids on replacing screen, but it's still an art that required me to buy a 2nd roll. Ace will install the screen for you.

 

I've got enough screen left for you to do your door, and a loaner spline roller. Catch me sitting by the fireplace with pewter mug #67.