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Tacogirl Belize blog Est. in 2007

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How to Kill Mosquitoes

by tacogirl 07/07/2011
written by tacogirl 07/07/2011
San Pedro Belize beach pictures

My routine of checking this mornings email turned into a full blown blog post – Thanks to Jay.

Hey TG, here’s another one to add to your mosquito trap that I sent to you last year.  It sounds as tho if everyone on the island would buy a bottle of Listerine and make a trap, you could eliminate all of those pesky creatures on the island.  Wouldn’t that be nice? I hope all is well in the land of sunshine and sand.  Aloha from Thailand,   J

First thing I do when I get info like this is go to my best friend Google [actually my toolbar got switched to Bing no idea how]. I ran a search on ‘does Listerine kill mosquitoes’ and here are 3 interesting things I found.

1. Nice thought but just as I suspected snopes gave a false right away to this email chain. According to them it is the female mosquitoes we need to worry about and the reason is that they are attracted to carbon dioxide. The more a person emits the more likely they are to be under attack by the female blood suckers.  Mosquito repellants like Deet and picardin work not so much for the kill factor but because they jam the odor receptors in insect antennae and mask odors that would ordinarily attract the bloodsucking bugs.

2. A Florida resident explains a bit about the theory behind the possibility of using mouthwash as insecticide. Since Listerine contains a fair amount of alcohol, spraying it directly onto mosquitoes will likely kill them, but not very efficiently. The alcohol could kill either by excessive intoxication, dehydration, or the fact that an alcohol solution has lower surface tension than water, which could wick through an insect’s spiracles into the trachea and drown them. [Death by Alcohol – unfortunately not the first time I have seen this idea come to pass.]

3. Best voted answer on Yahoo answers.
How would you go about killing mosquitoes with Listerine?
Spit it on them in mid-flight? lol

Here are my favorite tried and true ways to help keep the pesky buggers away?

Inside the house Vape wins hands down for me. You can find the plug-in device and boxes of replaceable cartridges known as Vape Mats in many grocery stores here on Ambergris Caye.

Vape Mat is easy to use and lasts up to 12 hours.  Each mat has three holes in it which slowly releases the insecticide when plugged in. Its time to use a new mat when you notice a color change from blue to white. In addition to skeeters it works a charm on pesky no-see-um’s when they are bad enough be unwanted house guests.

The only drawback is that you have to pay attention as it is a plug in device. Not sure what happens if you leave it plugged in over 12 h without changing the mat and not looking to find out.

Mosquito coils  are great too and I sometimes burn them outside on our veranda to help keep them at bay. If skeeters are really bad I will spray the screen door with bug stuff.

p.s I have been meaning to give totals on our last few BEL electric bills – April $83.06 – May $94.31 – June $105.59 – prices are in Belize dollars. We do not use air con and sometimes have ceiling fans going. Our main power use is computers, lights, tv and electric stove. I am determined to get it down a bit more since I learned that our friends who live in a condo close by come in around the $60 range – missing the days of $50 Belize electric bills when we lived in town.

Super Blaster Vape Mat Fumakilla

Super Blaster Vape Mat Fumakilla

vape-repellants.com

A different type of Vape plug in and mosquito coils

Related

tacogirl

Laure Norton grew up dyslexic and was very challenged by the school. She never dreamed she would move to Belize and become a writer. A year after her move to Ambergris Caye, Laurie became an entrepreneur and professional writer starting tacogirl blog in 2007. Since then she has helped many people plan their vacations or move. She also has been published in Great Destinations Belize Guidebook, Moon Guide to Living in Belize, Insight Guides, Island Magazine several times and USA Today. Currently Laurie resides in downtown San Pedro and enjoys being a "city girl" on a tropical island.

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10 comments

nattydread 23/03/2019 - 12:59 am

One vote for the Vape Mat. It simply works for me at 14 hours. This is for the original FumaKilla. Other generics last 10 hours max.

Reply
Tia 22/07/2011 - 2:29 pm

Vape. This is good to know.. I’m moving to the Dominican Republic in a few weeks and the mosquitos there almost killed me the last time I was there!

Greetings from Barcelona..
http://www.thetravellinggypsy.com

Reply
Monika 17/07/2011 - 5:47 pm

I read a this and a few other comments of this “al salter”. How can such a frustrated person continue living in Belize. How can such a person be allowed to destroy the reputation of this wonderful country …

Reply
tacogirl 18/07/2011 - 5:45 am

He is not in Belize currently Monika and has a very off beat sense of humor.

Reply
susan b 08/07/2011 - 9:54 am

Laurie: I was not aware till recently that my better ? half was writing his usual crap to your fine blog as he does with CBC. Please do not take anything he says too seriously. Best wishes S.B.

Reply
tacogirl 08/07/2011 - 10:10 am

Thanks Susan – you get used to taking things with a grain of salt [or sometimes pound] living on an island. The real issue at first was the dyslexia between the 2 Als – Allan salter and Alan Slater. We named the blow crocodiles in our pool the 4 Als and I keep waiting to find out who the other 2 real life ones are are.

Reply
Carbunkle Trumpet 08/07/2011 - 9:06 am

Ah Mosquitoes! They can get so big here in Memphis that they can stand flatfooted and rape a turkey! Thankfully with the May floods we only have snakes to contend with here downtown as the mosquitoes haven’t really shown up yet [knocking the hell out of some wood].
To combat them here we plant citronella plants around the house and spray some $20.00 insect spray under our porch. That and buy a pantsload of Off skeeter spray!

Reply
tacogirl 08/07/2011 - 9:59 am

CT Do they wear Elvis wigs too or the funny glasses with sideburns attached?

Reply
al salter 08/07/2011 - 8:02 am

I lived in the sub arctic for years.The mosquitos there are large enough to require landing lights. There ain’t nothin’ I don’t know about these offensive critters. Belizean species (Aedes) are low fliers and have more stealth plus they never go away. Chemical solutions are of limited value. Deet can remove paint, want that on your skin?
Answers: Smoke cigars continuously: akin to a smudge fire. Don’t bathe much. Natural body oils combined with dirt make you bug and waterproof.
Always travel in the bush walking betwen 2 well perfumed women wearing dark clothes. Drink 6 to 8 beers per day: the stench as you sweat it out through your oily skin does the job. Combining all the above reduces your chances of acquiring dengue hemmoraghic fever.

Reply
tacogirl 08/07/2011 - 8:25 am

Not only do natural body oils combined with dirt make you bug and waterproof – also makes you people proof ha ha

Reply

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Corey Holm
Corey Holm
04:38 25 Feb 20
I take the seniors from our academy to Belize every year for their senior trip. One of the first people I contact when... I start planning the trip is Laurie with TacoGirl Belize. She knows the island of San Pedro better than anyone else out there. Trust me, I have looked. If you are looking for the best restaurants, hang outs and shops then Laurie help plan your vacation.read more
Carol Taylor
Carol Taylor
15:53 24 Feb 20
Love Taco Girl Blog @LaurieNorton! I've been reading this blog since I started visiting Ambergris Caye in Belize almost... 10 years ago. It is filled with helpful up-to-date information and recommendations that I wouldn't necessarily find on my own. Laurie Norton's knowledge and extensive network on the island provides her with the ability to share perks/discounts/coupons with her readers, which come in handy year after year. Things on the island change daily - new businesses pop up constantly and LaurieNortonstays on top of these developments. Whenever I plan my return trip to the island, I always check her blog first - and I recommend you do the same. Trip Advisor ain't got nuttin' on Taco Girl!read more
Heidi
Heidi
20:01 20 Feb 20
Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s... always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. There is so much information it's amazing! Thank you Laurie!!!read more
Nick Goodman
Nick Goodman
21:23 30 Nov 19
I am considering a move to Belize and I have serendipitously found tacogirl.....what a treasure! She is full of great... advice, helpful hints.....knows everybody on Ambergris Caye and has a thousand useful recommendations and suggestions. Whether you are planning a vacation or relocating, you should make use of the many services she has to offer…..read more
KellyDivePhotography
KellyDivePhotography
20:58 30 Nov 19
I’m so pleased to see tacogirl's blog on Google. Laurie's blog is my official “go to” source for tourist and... local information on San Pedro. Of course, it’s always nice to see her guides on “what to do” in San Pedro, but I also appreciate her “insider” advice and human interest stories on what it’s like living as a local on the island. I especially enjoy her guest articles, providing a different perspective of all things San Pedro. Her tipping quide is a classic, and don’t forget her Tropic Air flight code and on-island discounts. You’re not up-to-date with what’s going on in San Pedro if you’re not regularly reading tacogirl's blog.read more
Sandra Godfrey
Sandra Godfrey
15:58 23 Nov 19
I have known Laurie (Taco Girl) for several years. She has been a wealth of good information for me in all of my... pursuits in Belize. I highly recommend her for any services you may require.read more
William Jones
William Jones
13:39 06 May 19
Do yourself a favor. Read this BEFORE any trip to San Pedro - Ambergris Caye or Belize in general. Not saying “do... what everyone else says”, but Laurie has frank and honest info which will make your stay in country a little more fun, a little more informative, and often at a great cost savings. Best thing: it’s unbiased, honest, and factual. Personal note: thank you for your personal tailored help in answering mine (and my wife’s) questions.read more
Kimberly Robinson
Kimberly Robinson
18:28 03 May 19
Taco Girl (Laurie) is amazing. She has so much knowledge about Belize and has great connections with many of the... businesses in Belize. Because of her connections she is able to offer many perks and discounts that you wouldn't have been able to find otherwise. She is super responsive and I always go to her for all my travel needs. From golf cart rentals, to spas, to places to eat. She's got the inside scoop on all!read more
Michael Rieck
Michael Rieck
20:22 21 Apr 19
Since 2003, my wife and I have been to Ambergris at least once a year to experience the fantastic diving. About twelve... years ago we me Tacogirl on a blog giving us discounts on golf carts, local airfares, and restaurants. Over the years we have grown a friendship and I look forward to her weekly blogs about he changes on my favorite home away from home. The island changes every year, and she always shows you what to see, do, and eat.read more
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I took the plunge and moved to San Pedro Town on the Island of Ambergris Caye, off the coast of Belize, Central America. Originally from Canada, I made the life-changing move to escape winter for good (in 2006) after one three week vacation.

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3 childhood memories that shaped my desire to move to Belize from a young age.Sailing in the Virgin Islands, seeing a rainbow out the window of an island hopper as we flew from Virgin Islands to Puerto Rico, Christmas in Hawaii and many trips to Florida.

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