How do you kill sandflies?

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 17:32

Does anyone know what I can spray in my bedroom to get rid of the sandflies that plagued me all last night. It seems that fluetex, whilst good on flies and mossies, does not seem to kill these little blighters!

andrew4232



Joined: 04/07/2009
Posts: 1543

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 17:34

hit them with the can then

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 17:39

I would if I could catch them but they are too quick!!!

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 18:00

Seriously, try the cockroach spray - sandflies eat normal fly-spray for breakfast before they even eat you!



Spray the wall behind the bed and round all the window and door frames.



If you have flyscreens - spray them, cos the mesh size in TRNC ones let in sandflies 2x2!

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 18:03

Thanks Tenakoutou, hadn't realised that cockroach spray may do the trick. Will go and buy some tomorrow, appreciate the advice!

gillken


Joined: 25/05/2008
Posts: 521

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 19:08

Hoover them up.

AnthonySmith


Joined: 14/05/2009
Posts: 455

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 19:17

I go round the bedroom before I go to sleep with a rolled up t-shirt and throw it hard and fast at them. It works but is painstaking. Then, in the morning, there's normally three or four having feasted on my blood. There are more blood stains on my bedroom wall than CSI would know what to do with!

Joe Soap


Joined: 17/10/2008
Posts: 170

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 19:36

I have tried a number of methods............ swots, (Murray has nothing on my smash!) chemicals, but as Gillken says I find hoovering them up the best protection.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 19:38

Unfortunately, the only spray (Cypermethrin) isn't available in all Cyprus - Permithrin is, but the Sicilian sandfly is becoming more resistant to it.



The government, or the agricultural chemical importers, obviously are unaware of the seriousness of this problem. No doubt it will take a lot of cases of *Sicilian Sandfly Fever, not to mention the loss of tourists, to convince them to do anything. Belediye spraying is a joke!



* Google it and be appalled!

plumber



Joined: 27/08/2008
Posts: 85

Message Posted:
15/09/2009 20:51

I hit them hard with a soft sweeping brush trouble is ,if there full theres a big red splodge on the paintwork, but it works every time. steve

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
16/09/2009 12:59

Thank you everyone for your help, I am not sure I have the energy to go around the room swatting them with a rolled up t-shirt Anthony!



My husband doesn't seem to get as bothered with them as I do and he reckons its down the famous grouse he drinks .... they don't seem to like it. So I have either got to be successful with all the suggestions above or take up drinking famous grouse!!!



Unless I bath in it before i go to bed!!!

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 08:47

I have never worried about sandflies, mossies, slugs in the water tank, cockroahes in the septic tank and I'm still alive!

AlsancakJack



Joined: 14/08/2008
Posts: 5762

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 09:01

We have one of those UV zapper boxes turned on in the evening and it catches and dispatches all nasty flying insects. We are well impressed with its efficiency. Never had a bite from a mossy or sandfly inside the villa since we started using it.

AJ

Ridle


Joined: 01/01/2009
Posts: 144

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 09:38

Hi A J. Can you tell me where you bought your zapper from?



Cheere D R

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 10:48

AJ: where do you site your electronic 'zapper' - inside or out.



Personally, I've found that they're OK for houseflies and moths, but not a lot of good for mossies and sandflies, because blood-sucking insects are attracted by the Co2 mammals breathe out.



The most efficient of your type of 'zapper', I found, is the type that attracts by the blue light, then when the insect getsclose enough, it is (or a cloud of them!) sucked by a fan into a collection box and is soon dessicated by the action of the fan. When removing the box on mine, it's incredible the amount of insects it has sucked in!



This machine is inexpensive and highly efficient - it's Italian made, and if anyone would like to 'Google' it, it's called 'Moel Insectivoro'.

Pogle


Joined: 28/08/2008
Posts: 1536

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 10:54

The only way we have found to prevent being bitten alive is to keep the aircon on 25c or under, they hate the cold. 26+ and they wake up ready for action.

We have the zapper for flies and moths, very effective but the smell of burning insect is horrible.

moonstone


Joined: 27/08/2009
Posts: 158

Message Posted:
17/09/2009 10:57

i tried everything and found that the plug in vape is the best method.

i can now sleep without getting eatin alive!!!

Aussie


Joined: 17/06/2007
Posts: 657

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 00:29

I found the plug in Vape good against mosquitoes but useless for sandflies.



Aussie

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 11:18

Just to let you know I took up the suggestion offered by Tenakoutou in msg 4 and all seems to be working well. We have had 3 nights of uninterrupted sleep and no sand fly bites at all.



We have tried the vape plug ins before but it has deterred the sandflies.



Thank you one and all.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 12:15

Admittedly, my suggestion re 'cockroach spray' may be the slightly more expensive option, but it does work - so, thank you scoobydoo for corroborating this. Some people may not like the initial smell, but in contrast to normal fly-spray aerosols, 'cockroach spray' has a residual effect - witness the fact that if you spray in the gutters of door frames and window frames, any insect that attempts to 'cross the border' will, either immediately, or soon, expire.



If spraying is done every two to three weeks, this should be sufficient.



It's much cheaper to buy 'Bio Kill' from Homebase, or Orphanides in the South - this is even more effective and longer lasting. Look for the green and white plastic spray bottle with green coloured spray trigger mechanism - usually to be found amongst the fly sprays, insect repellents, etc, on the top shelf!



Also, the 'Aroxol' brand of aerosol 'cockroach spray' can be bought at the above stores - look for the green can - better than TRNC products!

racoonchic



Joined: 17/11/2008
Posts: 3223

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 13:29

my friend brought me a racket called the executioner i set it over the top of them and blow on them and as they go to fly away they hit the grid such a nice sound as the get electricuted only 10 stg worth every penny

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 13:54

racoonchic: as with a vibrator - great, until the batteries go flat!

yrys88


Joined: 08/08/2009
Posts: 1140

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 20:18

You can also ZAP them and watch them burn!! Kind of sadistic also worth it, after those buggers have been biting you, it feels good!! Luckily we have them in stock!!



Go to http://cyprus-buy-sell.com/index.php/cPath/1_40





Thanks

Yen

yrtrnc@yahoo.co.uk

05338644330

General Manager

http://CYPRUS-BUY-SELL.com

_cyprus4eva_


Joined: 18/09/2009
Posts: 17

Message Posted:
18/09/2009 23:41

this really works !!! Put some turkish raki in a small plate and place it somewhere near the window in your room. Thats it end of sandflies. They hate the smell of it.

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
19/09/2009 16:09

The rackets may be great but when you are in bed trying to sleep at 3am or 4am, you don't want to suddenly have to be leaping around the bedroom waving a zapping racket, verbally abusing a sandfly for disturbing your sleep!



So far I have now had 4 wonderful nights of undisturbed sleep, oh apart from the neighbours gardener mowing a 6.30am this morning!



I may try the Raki as we bought some and can't stand it so at least we can use it up!

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
19/09/2009 16:24

If mossies and sandflies bother you outside in the evening a fan will deter them, as they can't fly against the airstream - good in July-August.



If calm air, spray a number of paper towels/serviettes with the spray products I mentioned above, stand in a glass or mug and stand on the floor around where you are sitting. Stand a couple on the table, too.



Grow some 'Basil' in pots around your patio, and cut a branch off and rub on exposed skin - mossies and sandflies hate it. You needn't cut it, though - just brush your hands, arms and legs through the leaves!

scoobydoo


Joined: 10/11/2008
Posts: 2434

Message Posted:
19/09/2009 16:35

You are right about them not liking air movement and we have been okay throughout the summer as the ceiling fan has been on but now it is a little to chilly to use the fan with the windows open (we do have fly screens) but thanks for all your suggestions.



We always put a fan outside, it doesn't have to be on strong but it certainly does deter the little blighters from eating me.

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
19/09/2009 18:39

You can also burn 'insect repellent' coils.



The best brand, I've found are the D.K. brand (green carton) - only available in the South - Orphanides/Homebase. These smell quite pleasant, as opposed to other brands, so one's clothes don't smell so bad after you go indoors.



Also, I've found D.K. 'tabs' and bottles of liquid for the electronic machines are the most effective and the cheapest!

Tenakoutou



Joined: 27/07/2009
Posts: 4110

Message Posted:
29/09/2009 19:28

Newlad - from 'ull!



On the Google search bar, write 'How do you kill sandflies?'



See my post on how to make your own 'after bite' lotion - equally as important as 'protection'. (No, I don't mean: slip into a condom!)



I wrote a fair few posts on the subject of your thread!



It's also a good idea to buy at least 3/4 oil lamps - we bought them and also 1 lite bottles of Citronella Oil in Homebase in the South - they give very good protection against mossies - sandflies will come initially, after you've lit the lamps, but not for long. Stand a couple of lamps on the floor and a couple on the table.



And no - you won't get asphyxiated!

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
29/09/2009 20:26

Cheers matey,

All the way from ull

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
30/09/2009 12:15

The best way to kill a sandfly is to grab it by the throat to cut off its air supply.