Red LEDs and mosquitoes

[NateD]

When anchored at night a bug screen in the forward hatch, the factory metal screens in the portholes, and a plexiglass drop board in place seems to keep the random mosquito from flying in and laying eggs in my brain. But if I turn on a cabin light to read a little before bed, that seems to be enough incentive that they find a way in around the screens or through the corners of the hatch boards. Last night I was at anchor and it was starting to get dark. I dug my headlamp out of my bag to have nearby in case I needed to do something on deck in the dark. The headlamp has both white and red LEDs, and it sudden struck me, are mosquitoes attracted to red light? So I waited until it was good and dark, then I placed the headlamp in the cockpit with the white light on, pointed at the combing. In 4 minutes I had 7 mosquitoes buzzing around it. Then I moved it to the other side of the cockpit, turned on the red light and pointed it at the combing. In 4 minutes there were zero mosquitoes.

Not a very scientific study, but the results are interesting. I never use my cabin lights at night for fear of attracting the wrong kind of company, but now I am thinking about adding red LED cabin lights bright enough to read by if they don't attract mosquitoes. I know about the benefits to maintaining your night vision, but do red light also attract fewer bugs than white?

[HeaveToo]

One quick trick that seems to work.....
I put screens on my main hatch and the companionway hatch.  They work well.

If the bugs are really bad, I spray the screens with off or some other bug spray.  You can also clip on those new Off belt clip things on the areas by the front hatch and companionway.  I usually leave the side windows closed on my boat.  The reason for this is that the wind comes in the front hatch and by keeping the rear hatch open you get better ventilation. 

[Greene]

Interesting. 

One trick we use is a 2" x 2" square piece of open cell foam (ours came with a window a/c unit at work) to seal up the companionway.





This seals up the entire top area very nicely.

Mike and Brenda

[brackish]

I use a piece of foam like Mike shows, with this drop board that I made to keep the little buggers out.  Seems to work OK, but I might try the red light to see if it works and have also thought about hanging one of those clip ons near the area they can get in.  I have screens for all the ports and the forward hatch, although that one is a little hard to get set up with my wind scoop.

[kahpho]

I was camping several years ago and noticed that the cold white (think blue-white) LED flashlight didn't seem to attract the night bugs. Since I was car camping I turned the warm white dome light on (think yellow-white) to test this observation. Instantly the usual crowd of moths and other flying pests swarmed in from where ever they were lurking. I've since only used the cold white lights even though they look off to me. Maybe the bugs think so too?

mel

[skip1930]

I don't see any mosquitoes. Ouch! Something just bit me.

skip.

[NateD]

I was camping several years ago and noticed that the cold white (think blue-white) LED flashlight didn't seem to attract the night bugs. Since I was car camping I turned the warm white dome light on (think yellow-white) to test this observation. Instantly the usual crowd of moths and other flying pests swarmed in from where ever they were lurking. I've since only used the cold white lights even though they look off to me. Maybe the bugs think so too?

mel

Interesting. The bright-white LEDs from my headlamp did attract the bugs, I wouldn't call it a yellow or blue-white, pretty solidly white.

I went poking around marine supply sites last night looking for a bright red LED bulb, so far it looks like the red lights are designed at about half the output of white lights. I might have to go with some cheap automotive grade LED bulb to get enough wattage to read by.