It's the year 2025. We have crispr-cas9, chatgpt, new missions to the Moon and maybe Mars... and yet, it feels like there's no great solution to deal with mosquitoes. Lasers to fry them? magnetic waves to repel them? What's our there that I don't know?
Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
1–10 of 36 posts
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#2Definitely address any standing water on your property, make sure anything that can collect rain is turned over, covered, or dumped.
I haven't tried this yet, but will next summer:
https://www.northcarolinacharm.com/how-to-kill-mosquito-larv...
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#3Yes. Burn some incense or sage to add a cloaking layer to the air. First walk around like to a ritual and wafe the smoke under ledges or surfaces they like to hide, then let it burn anywhere they accumulate.
Also coconut oil masks the body. As long as you haven’t sweated your smell through your close a light oil topping may buy you several hours of concealment.
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#4$5 electric anti-mosquito "tennis" rackets.
I'd install a device if there existed one: say something 2 meters high from the ground that can throw lasers but only on the vertical part of the wall (so above human eye level). A high res camera. Detect mosquito: fire laser.
These little fuckers shall, invariably, fly and land on the upper part of the various walls.
Maybe just a wide (say 2 feet / 60 cm) dual-sided tape: I'd tape happily that to the upper part of the walls in my room. Mosquitoes are bound to land there.
I agree it's insane we're in 2025 and this hasn't been solved yet. The company to solve the mosquito issue is going to be richer than NVidia.
Just invent these things: I'll buy them all. Just as I bought several of these anti-mosquito electric rackets and they're honestly a godsend compared to the "roll a magazine and try to squish the mosquito" from my youth.
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#5There’s actually a YC startup that tries to address this question: https://tornyol.com/
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#6door/window nets and spray
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#7repair window screens.
mitigate standing water, even sippie holes, or derelict party cups.
but save your effort if you live near a pond slow stream, or lake.
door discipline, dont keep it open, sweep yourself for piggybackers.
electric mosquito racket.
hunt blood engorged mosquitoes with extreme prejudice. each such kill prevents hundreds more.
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#8There are some YouTube videos out there where guys attach a screen (or net) to a high powered fan and catch/kill insane amount of mosquitoes.
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#9Definitely address any standing water on your property, make sure anything that can collect rain is turned over, covered, or dumped. I haven't tried this yet, but will next summer: https://www.northcarolinacharm.com/how-to-kill-mosquito-larv...
I tried this "bucket of doom" approach last summer and if anything it made the problem worse. I was told by someone that at least one of the mosquito species in my area (Southern California) are immune to the mosquito dunks, though I don't know if that's true.
Re: Ask HN: Effective way to deal with mosquitoes?
#10We have effect mosquito control and have had for decades.
We have genetically engineered mosquitoes that breed with wild types that reduce the life span of adult mosquitoes to reduce the spread of disease. We have biological agents that do the same. We have chemicals that stop the larva from developing into adult mosquitos. We have chemicals that can be vaporised to deter mosquitoes. We also have chemicals that you can apply that will stop mosquitoes from biting you (and will melt plastic).
Or just use a fly screen. I built one recently for my awning style window.
Look up thermacell devices and methoprene pelletes