Bothersome Bugs

[IA_Seth]

Ok, so here is the scenario:

My fiance and I live in an apartment. The front door of said apartment is an exterior door and does not have a screen door. The 'porch light' is light-sensitive, automatically turning on at dusk and remaining on throughout the evening. It is not able to be shut off short of removing the light bulb.

The problem is that since the light is on ALL THE TIME we are getting hundreds (not an exaggeration) of bugs on our door, on our window, and all over the siding near the light. It's like fear factor to come home late at night, and it's a test of ninja-like reflexes to get the door opened, entered, and closed behind you without inhaling a mouthful and letting in a swarm.

I'd just unscrew the lightbulb, but as I looked around last night I noticed that all of our other neighbors already did this. If we didnt have our light on there would be ZERO light to come home to. Walking up a flight of stairs in the dark doesn't sound ideal, besides I dont like the thought of my fiance (or me) walking to our door in complete darkness.

So my question: Is there anything I can put on the door or near it that will deter flying insects (moths, mosquitos, and a host of mystery bugs)? I'd spray the sucker with some sort of deet concoction but I dont think it would do nice things to my siding, and I dont know that it would work anyway. Besides, I'd really like to stay away from overly-harsh chemicals as much as possible.

Out of frustration I sprayed everything down with windex the other night hoping it would at least deter them somewhat, but I dont know that it had the effect I was looking for.

Are there special lightbulbs or anything that I can use?

Any thoughts? Anyone ever had a similar issue?

[NMDemDist2]

1. yellow light bulb

it won't stop them all, but will help a bit

[IA_Seth]

2. Why, thank you..

I'll give it a try!

Oh, and thanks again for the recipes..I have the ingredients but havent had the time to throw them together. You've been a great help this week!

[NMDemDist2]

3. you're very welcome!

:hi:

[IA_Seth]

13. Just an update...

The yellow light bulb did the trick.. now I still dodge the bugs and have to make quick entries/exits, but it took away the fear-factor aspect of touching the door, etc...and I no longer feel like I have bugs all over me after going in or out.

It's rather dim, but it'll do!

[NMDemDist2]

14. cool! n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

4. Since you say you can unscrew the bulb, but choose not to ......

.... why not unscrew it, screw in a converter to make the bulb socket an outlet and plug one of these into it ......



http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200320775_200320775

You could attach an outdoor extension cord to the light fixture, hang the bug light a goodly distance from your door, and still get light from the bug light. We have two of these in our yard and they actually give off quite a bit of light. Probably not as bright as what's in your light fixture now, but likely enough to see to get to your door. maybe each of your neighbors could do the same. Then you'd have lots of light.

These aren't very expensive either. And they're effective at killing flying bugs.

[IA_Seth]

5. I need a real light...

I considered a bug zapper...there is an outlet right outside of my door...but I didn't really want to have one running all the time (I leave when it's light out and come back at night).

Perhaps that is my only option, and if that's what it takes I guess I will have to...it's unbearable the way it is right now. I'll go with the yellow light first and see how that goes.

[Longhorn]

6. Those yellow lights that AZDem mentioned are actually called

bug lights and they do help.

Maybe you could put the bug zapper on a timer. Of course, there is risk that someone will steal the timer and/or zapper.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. All you'd need is the smallest bug zapper ... and they use a low wattage

fluorescent light. We leave ours on all the time. I'm gonna guess the little ones use maybe a 10 or 12 watt light. (Fluorescents give off far more light per watt than incandescent bulbs.)

[Warpy]

8. Studies have shown that those zappers don't actually attract

the bugs the way they're advertised to, and only incinerate those bugs unlucky enough to fly into them at random. Still, it might replace some of the unsightly bug stains on the door and window with bits of ash in the zapper.

The yellow light will decrease the bugs but not stop them entirely, nor will leaving the light off. Unless you also leave interior lights off or use blackout curtains from WWII, those bugs will be attracted to any window that has light coming through it.

I wish I could be more helpful with this, but I'm going through the moth hatching season here in the high desert and indoors and outdoors both look like a scene from a Hitchcock movie.

[IA_Seth]

9. Oh i feel your pain..

To compound my bug problem I have a 9-month pregnant bug-hating dictator who is quick to point them out for me to kill...of course I say dictator in the most loving and playful sense..lol.

I am going to try the yellow light tonight. It's either that or I am goin to end up outside with a flame-thrower and I dont think that it would go over well with the neighbors!

[Stinky The Clown]

10. Ah ... tell the neighbors to just .....

.... bring some marshmallows. :)

[Whoa_Nelly]

11. Use bug spray on the light fixture and all around your door

and the yellow bug bulb. Have had that problem in the past, and found spraying the light and surrounding area works, but has to be done every few days.


OR

Buy a good flashlight for coming home at night, and unscrew the light bulb in the outdoor wall fixture.

[youthere]

12. Wipe down the entire door and light fixture with citronella oil..

Supposedly the little beasties don't like it as it burns their feet. I don't know if it will work on ALL the creepy crawlers, but it should help with some of them and you have the added benefit of it not reeking like DEET. You'lll probably have to do it every couple of days or so.