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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 702
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What have you done to combat mosquitoes in your observatory?
Any specific building approaches to lower the numbers you have to deal with?
And what weapons in your defensive arsenal do you use to keep the little blood suckers at bay?
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Thermacell works great:
http://www.mosquitorepellent.com/
I was pretty skeptical of this, I have to admit. But I tried it, and it really does work quite well.
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Kaizu
sage
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 337
Loc: Finland
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Some times I have used Raid (insecticide). Normally there are no mosquitoes inside the dome, maybe they do not see me there.
I have also noticed that when I have been out with my wife, the mosquitoes like her much more than me. Maybe I should ask her to join me.
Kaizu
--------------------
Some thoughts are so wise that they don't make me laugh
http://www.kaiforssen.fi
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
Some times I have used Raid (insecticide). Normally there are no mosquitoes inside the dome, maybe they do not see me there.
A yard fogger type of insecticide used around the perimeter of the building will be effective for a while. (We use that on our patio out here, and it's pretty effective.)
Another option is something like this - a distance away from your observatory:
Stinger ultra bug zapper
But honestly the most effective thing I've tried, other than coating myself in DEET is Thermacell. It works just exceedingly well.
Links from the equipment forum:
How 'bout them thar Thermacell bug ejectors? (Apologies to Uncle Rod)
Thermacell Question
Thermacell and observatories
Quick Report on Thermacell
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quantumac
sage
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 334
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The one question you want to ask yourself regarding anything which emits a mist of repellent: do I want this stuff on my mirror surfaces or optics?
--------------------
Scope: Meade 10" LX200R
Guide/Planetary Camera: Imaging Source DBK41AF02.AS
DSO Camera: QHY8
Guide Hardware: Celestron OAG, Shoestring Astronomy GPUSB
Software: Mac OS X, Starry Night Pro, Nebulosity, PHD Guiding, PixInsight. No Windows anything.
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L. Regira
sage
Reged: 07/10/05
Posts: 228
Loc: Theriot, LA 29' 25"N; 90.46W
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A friend of mine uses a fan aimed at his body. I use nothing until the mosquitoes find me then Off with deet. I try to spray it on my clothes instead of my skin but I do have to get the head, arms, neck, ankles, lower back, and face. I spray into my palms and pass it over my face and ears. Like Achilles, they will find your weakness. I read about deet and it seems that it has been in use since the 1950's with no reported problems.
Lawrence
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CaveAstrola 12.5"F5(1979)Refigured by Swayze(2002)
Criterion RV-6 Dynascope(1975) (down for repairs thanks to Hurricane Gustav)
Denk Big Easy(7/20/07)Siebert OCA,and Mag Wheel
Sears #6332 Classic Teal blue 60mm F 11.7
8x12 Roll-Off Roof Observatory
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
The one question you want to ask yourself regarding anything which emits a mist of repellent: do I want this stuff on my mirror surfaces or optics?
The tiny amount of vapor emitted by this device doesn't especially worry me, given the amount of dust, smoke, pollen and other assorted gunk in the air on any given night. I don't keep it especially close to the OTA.
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1388
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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Quote:
Like Achilles, they will find your weakness. I read about deet and it seems that it has been in use since the 1950's with no reported problems.
DEET is effective. What I don't like about DEET has nothing to do with any health effects it might or might not have. The problem with DEET is two-fold:
1. It's most effective at high concentrations, or with a controlled release formula. (The CR stuff is harder to get.) Unfortunately, especially with high concentrations, this stuff WILL interact (i.e. melt) some plastics. Maybe Thermacell is harder on a mirror than smoking 10 packs of cigarettes per night in your obs, this remains to be seen. However, I am quite certain that DEET will screw up some stuff made of plastic, because it's happened to me. The controlled release stuff is MUCH better about this - you can get it from REI or other camping stores. (3M makes it - it allows you to use much a lower concentration of DEET.)
2. Other people in the dome. I may not be afraid of DEET, but as soon as someone notices "hey, I picked up this plastic thingie, and it kind of melted, this stuff has to be really bad for you!!" then it's all over. It doesn't seem to matter that I point out "well, yes, it was bad for that bit of plastic, but YOU aren't made of plastic, are you?"
It is substantially cheaper to use DEET than a thermacell, unless you just have a massive number of visitors.
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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I use only the ThermaCell. There is so little vapor, I definitely do not worry about my optics.
This devise really, really works well! This is my second season using it.
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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csa/montana
Den Mother
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 39594
Loc: montana
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Quote:
The one question you want to ask yourself regarding anything which emits a mist of repellent: do I want this stuff on my mirror surfaces or optics?
The ThermaCell has been used by many, with no ill effects on optics; some even place it directly under their tripods; I don't think I would, but that's their choice. I set mine on the floor about 4' from the scope.
--------------------
Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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LateViewer
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 11/17/05
Posts: 760
Loc: Westchester NY
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I am going to have to get me a ThermaCell.
--------------------
12.5" Discovery String Truss Dob
DSV-1 Alt-Az Mount
WO 66mm Petzval
Orion 127mm Mak with WO 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Celestron CG-5 GoTo
8.8, 14, 18, and 24mm Meade UWA Series 5000 EP
32, 40mm Orion Optiluxe EP
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rodney
Vendor - Explora Dome
Reged: 03/08/05
Posts: 795
Loc: Asbury, NJ
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OK, here is the oddest thing I ever tried. Dryer sheets, yep the ones you use in your laundry. There are numerous reports online that say it is a myth and other sites say they work. So take it for what it is worth. Try a sheet or two one night, tuck them in your waistband and see what happens. My wife and I tried them last fall on a rather mosquito infested night. Not one bite the entire night. Rumor has it the scent of the sheet masks your normal scent and fooling the hungry mosquito. What the heck for a few pennies anything is worth a try.
Clear skies,
--------------------
My Explora Dome construction is here:
www.exploradome.us
Rodney
Meade 10 SCT
AT 8/F4 imaging scope
13 Truss
C8-NGT
Orion 80mm/F11
Canon 300D
Canon XSi
Two AS-GT mounts
Extremely happy Explora Dome home observatory owner
Edited by rodney (06/15/09 05:04 PM)
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Luigi
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 4887
Loc: Massachusetts
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OFF has a new little clip-on fan dispersed unit that uses similar repellent to Thermacell but doesn't need heat to vaporize. It uses 2AA cells to drive the fan. Very quiet and seems as affective as a Thermacell. It uses replaceable elements that include a replacement indicator. I have about 8 hours on one so far and batteries and element are still going strong. YMMV (Your Mosquitoes May Vary ;-)
--------------------
Discovery 17.5" f/5. IM 7" f/15 MCT. Eon-120ED
Lunt 60mm Ha on Nexstar mount.
CG5ASGT, Orion Skyview AZ
9 Nag. 35&19,Pans. 24.5 4kSWA. 14&4.7 5kUWA Meades
6, 9, 12.5 UO-AO. 3mm Edge-on. 7mm BO-TMB
Zeiss, Leupold, Bushnell spotters
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell binos
One each generic rescue Greyhound
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quantumac
sage
Reged: 12/17/07
Posts: 334
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Quote:
OK, here is the oddest thing I ever tried. Dryer sheets, yep the ones you use in your laundry. There are numerous reports online that say it is a myth and other sites say they work. So take it for what it is worth. Try a sheet or two one night, tuck them in your waistband and see what happens. My wife and I tried them last fall on a rather mosquito infested night. Not one bite the entire night. Rumor has it the scent of the sheet masks your normal scent and fooling the hungry mosquito. What the heck for a few pennies anything is worth a try.
Clear skies,
Here's what snopes says:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/bounce.asp
The way marketing people are, if there were any truth to it whatsoever, they'd be trumpeting it to high heavens. Dual use products are gold mines, ya know.
Reminds me of the SNL skit: "It's a floor wax. No, it's a dessert topping. It's both!"
--------------------
Scope: Meade 10" LX200R
Guide/Planetary Camera: Imaging Source DBK41AF02.AS
DSO Camera: QHY8
Guide Hardware: Celestron OAG, Shoestring Astronomy GPUSB
Software: Mac OS X, Starry Night Pro, Nebulosity, PHD Guiding, PixInsight. No Windows anything.
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rodney
Vendor - Explora Dome
Reged: 03/08/05
Posts: 795
Loc: Asbury, NJ
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As stated in my post there are numerous reports in favor and against these things working. Could you please post the Yahoo answers posts about how they work as oppossed to the snopes.com report, which BTW Snopes.com has been wrong in the past.
Clear skies,
Quote:
Quote:
OK, here is the oddest thing I ever tried. Dryer sheets, yep the ones you use in your laundry. There are numerous reports online that say it is a myth and other sites say they work. So take it for what it is worth. Try a sheet or two one night, tuck them in your waistband and see what happens. My wife and I tried them last fall on a rather mosquito infested night. Not one bite the entire night. Rumor has it the scent of the sheet masks your normal scent and fooling the hungry mosquito. What the heck for a few pennies anything is worth a try.
Clear skies,
Here's what snopes says:
http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/household/bounce.asp
The way marketing people are, if there were any truth to it whatsoever, they'd be trumpeting it to high heavens. Dual use products are gold mines, ya know.
Reminds me of the SNL skit: "It's a floor wax. No, it's a dessert topping. It's both!"
--------------------
My Explora Dome construction is here:
www.exploradome.us
Rodney
Meade 10 SCT
AT 8/F4 imaging scope
13 Truss
C8-NGT
Orion 80mm/F11
Canon 300D
Canon XSi
Two AS-GT mounts
Extremely happy Explora Dome home observatory owner
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Chris Schroeder
Postmaster
Reged: 12/11/04
Posts: 6523
Loc: N.E. WI Sky Glow
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I too have heard about the fabric sheets working but have never tried them myself.
I do use and would recommend the Themocell and have noticed very little, if any, vapor coming from it. I have also used a fan and it works if it is strong enough and I can stay in the breeze. I have also tried an electric mosquito eliminator with very little success, we do use Citronella candles when we have company over and they seem to work if you have enough of them but I would not use them around my optics, too much smoke vapor.
--------------------
Chris
Mallincam Color Hyper Plus
10" DSH with SC DSC, CPC 800 XLT
M110 Doublet ED, AT 102Achro, ZS80FD 10th Anniv, ZS66SD, PST
CG5-AGT, EZ-Touch, Voyager
POD XL3 http://POD.SchroederCity.com
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RobertED
professor emeritus
Reged: 07/11/03
Posts: 1162
Loc: Johnston, RI
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Luigi, how much do those OFF thingy's cost?? I just saw the commercial on TV, it looks interesting! Do they work well?? 
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Bob Myler
sage
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 215
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Among ThermaCELL's many pluses is its High Cool Factor: - Look through the "fire box" lens at its miniature furnace - and the tiny, well regulated flame housed within - and its beautifully fitted (Gortex?) holster. Mine lights with only one push of the start button (the instructions call for 3 to 5 rapid clicks). It's a well built machine. And of course it keeps those skeeters away too...
If there is ONE downside to this product, it's ThermaCELL's use of proprietary butane cartridges and repellent mats - sort of like those over-priced replacement ink cartridges for your inkjet or laser printer!
All in all though - its like having you own private "Mosquito Deleto" - without the need for a 20 pound propane tank.
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 702
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Quote:
Quote:
Like Achilles, they will find your weakness. I read about deet and it seems that it has been in use since the 1950's with no reported problems.
DEET is effective. What I don't like about DEET has nothing to do with any health effects it might or might not have. The problem with DEET is two-fold:
1. It's most effective at high concentrations, or with a controlled release formula. (The CR stuff is harder to get.) Unfortunately, especially with high concentrations, this stuff WILL interact (i.e. melt) some plastics. Maybe Thermacell is harder on a mirror than smoking 10 packs of cigarettes per night in your obs, this remains to be seen. However, I am quite certain that DEET will screw up some stuff made of plastic, because it's happened to me. The controlled release stuff is MUCH better about this - you can get it from REI or other camping stores. (3M makes it - it allows you to use much a lower concentration of DEET.)
2. Other people in the dome. I may not be afraid of DEET, but as soon as someone notices "hey, I picked up this plastic thingie, and it kind of melted, this stuff has to be really bad for you!!" then it's all over. It doesn't seem to matter that I point out "well, yes, it was bad for that bit of plastic, but YOU aren't made of plastic, are you?"
It is substantially cheaper to use DEET than a thermacell, unless you just have a massive number of visitors.
FYI...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DEET#Effects_on_health
It does have problems with health and plastics.
I have had it ruin astro equipment.
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 702
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|
Quote:
Quote:
Some times I have used Raid (insecticide). Normally there are no mosquitoes inside the dome, maybe they do not see me there.
A yard fogger type of insecticide used around the perimeter of the building will be effective for a while. (We use that on our patio out here, and it's pretty effective.)
Another option is something like this - a distance away from your observatory:
Stinger ultra bug zapper
But honestly the most effective thing I've tried, other than coating myself in DEET is Thermacell. It works just exceedingly well.
Links from the equipment forum:
How 'bout them thar Thermacell bug ejectors? (Apologies to Uncle Rod)
Thermacell Question
Thermacell and observatories
Quick Report on Thermacell
Bug zappers are not a good way to combat mosquitoes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bug_zapper
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