Moths and lights - what do you use?
Submitted: Monday, Jun 04, 2007 at 23:03
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Member - Captain (WA)
Hi all, have just got back from a great trip up to
Ningaloo,
Millstream and Karijini. But we experienced the worst moths at night I have ever come across at
Ningaloo (and the flys during the day were something else - first time in over 20 years I have bought a fly net for the hat!).
When using the fluro light over the camper tailgate kitchen, you could barely see the light for moths. I ended up turning the fluro off and using the worklight on the rear of the GU to try and attract the moths away. It worked to some degree, but running 2 engels off 1 battery plus the worklight for a few hours resulted in a flat 2nd battery the next morning.
I got to thinking and wondered if yellow fluro (or LED) 12V lights available and do they minimise bugs? At one stage I resorted to the red LED headlight and this seemed to work, but not really enough light to
cook by.
Anyway, just wondering what others did when the moths are this bad. Interestingly,
Millstream had virtually no flys or moths while Karijini had just enough to notice them, but had the Dingoes certainly howled there at night.
Cheers
Captain
Reply By: Sand Man (SA) - Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 05:59
Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 05:59
Captain,
I have a 12 volt LED light, similar in size to the Versalite fluro. (and costing about the same price)
It doesn't put out quite as much lumens as the versalite, but certainly reduces the insect attraction to almost nothing.
I now use the LED light at the cooking end of the Camper annex and the versalite at the other end.
Can notice a considerable number of moths, insects etc., around the versalite at times whilst there would be maybe one or two around the LED.
So yes, the LED does work in limiting insect attraction, albeit at the expense of less brightness.
AnswerID:
244808
Reply By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 07:36
Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 07:36
Something a bit old fashioned, but works
well is the old kerosene lantern.
They don't attract the moths, and amazing how much light they put out.
1/2 litre of kero goes a long way.
Usually carry one and put it outside for a general light on those moonless nights.
If you want to be fancy, you can put some citronela oil in too, helps to keep the mozzies away if they are around.
Otherwise, as above, yellow the tube, or use LEDs.
AnswerID:
244815
Follow Up By: Mike Harding - Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 09:44
Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 09:44
Agreed. My 12V flouro attracts moths by the dozen but they never seem to bother with my Coleman petrol lantern.
Mike Harding
FollowupID:
505924
Reply By: Outa Bounds - Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 13:21
Tuesday, Jun 05, 2007 at 13:21
Oh darn, I think those two brand spanking new coleman lanterns (battery type) are flouro!
We got rid of our gas lantern as
well, just seemed too fragile and we always found lighting it to be a pain.
I guess if all else fails
well carry a Led headlamp which should hopefully do the trick, and throw in some yellow cello like mentioned!
The things you learn here!
AnswerID:
244884
Reply By: Mainey (WA) - Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 13:58
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007 at 13:58
Another method is a 12v Low voltage electronic compact fluorescent lamp, the 12Watt globe = 60 Watt incandescent light globe and puts out 600 Lumen.
It’s available in either “warm white” incandescent 3000k or “natural’ light 5000k, they can wire up directly off the battery, or there is the normal 240v version that runs off the inverter.
I use both, depending on the placement of the ‘kitchen table’ as the 12v one can be placed a long way away, because it can connect to the battery system via the solar panel extension cable and having the main light away from the actual "lounge" & "dining" area keeps the bugs away from the food & drinks.
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246566