Whether you believe in global warming or not, one thing is for certain; it is hot outside. Especially here in the Southeast, days and nights are muggy. If you happen to live in an area that has four actual seasons, consider yourself fortunate. We have hot and hotter. With the hottest part of the Summer and the warmer nights of the early Fall we are graced with the tiny vampires of the night – mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, they are also very dangerous. Currently, in my area we have several cases of West Nile Virus and the count continues to rise. While not technically a deadly virus, there is no treatment. In fact, the main test for West Nile is a MRI head scan. A hospital stay can help with the complications, but you would just stay sick.
Lately, I have been trying out the Terminix Allclear Mosquito Mister on my back deck. While more expensive that a typical citronella candle, it is much more hi-tech and lasts a bit longer. The Mister looks like a typical solar powered LED light, although much bigger.It has no wires and is completely portable, thanks to the included 4 AA batteries. I have been using the lantern for several nights, hours at a time, and it has not died yet. This was one of the main selling points for me, because we want something to take on camping trips, where we are forced into the mosquito darkness, with nowhere to hide.
All the included stuff
Another great selling point is that there are no switches or buttons on the lantern itself. The entire mister is controlled with an included remote (UPDATE: there actually is a manual mist button on the lantern, in case the remote is out of reach). The remote allows you to turn the light on, off, turn the mist on, off and put it on levels of auto spray. The different levels of auto spray are used based on the size crowd that you are protecting. Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon-dioxide. The more people, the more carbon-dioxide – the more the dinner bell is rung for the flying blood sippers. We usually had about three or four people outside, so we never moved above level one. This sprayed a short mist, every now and then – and kept my 400 square feet of decking mosquito free.
The misting solution comes in an aerosol bottle, that looks like you would spray yourself with. However, you pull the nozzle off and pop it into the underside of the lantern lid. That is it! It smells lemony like most repellents smell, but not bad over all. I would not hang it directly over your picnic table, but anywhere around the site and you are good. I highly recommend the Terminix Allclear Mosquito Mister as a safe and geeky alternative to spraying oneself with bug spray to have a fun time in the hot outdoors.
