We moved in ready for the sunshine, the garden, and the adventure. We were not quite ready for the mosquitoes.
Within hours of arriving at our new property in Hua Hin, we’d already had our first encounter. The outdoor bathroom hadn’t been used in a while (apparently the previous tenant moved out a few months prior) and the moment we turned the shower on, it came alive with a swarm of mosquitoes, apparently delighted by the sudden activity, which rose like a dark menacing cloud. Not aggressive, as it turned out, but deeply unwelcome and even more deeply disconcerting. If you’ve ever seen what I am describing, you know what I mean. A quick session with the electric bat with a little bit of ducking and maybe a little bit of screaming, sorted most of them. Welcome to tropical living.
That evening, the real battle began. Fell asleep very early and woke up bitten late evening. I sprang to groggy action – white walls, nothing – check. Shook curtains – nothing, check. Shook open suitcase – nothing, check. No sign of anything. Decided to retreat to my bed, bat in hand. A little while later, my partner walked into the en suite and spotted it immediately. Killed it with her bare hands. Apparently it was aggressive and full of blood. Vicarious revenge was mine.
The bites were pretty bad compared to the few I’ve had in the last couple of months I’ve been in Thailand – perhaps she (the mosquito) had been laying in wait for a while. Antihistamines are also your friend here, hard to tell how much they actually help but they seem to always ease the itching and did help me to get some sleep that evening.
The shower trick
By Day 4 we’d figured something out that I haven’t seen written down anywhere: turning the shower on before you use the bathroom is genuinely useful. The sudden moisture and movement seems to activate any resting mosquitoes – they come out of hiding and into the open, where my favourite mosquito bat, affectionately named Batty is waiting (I’ve never been accused of being overly original). We now consider this as a standard procedure – thirty seconds of pre-shower running, several lunges and sweep. Fried mosquitoes and a bit of a warm-up.
Shoes: the ambush point nobody warns you about
By Day 3 we had another revelation. In Thailand it’s customary to leave shoes outside the front door – which turns out not only to be hygienic (still not sure why people where outdoor shoes indoors but each to their own) but also a hotspot for mosquitoes because feet and footwear are strong attractants. In practice, what you’ve created is a pile of highly attractive objects right next to a door that opens and closes regularly.
Day 5: A whole horde of mosquitoes had decided to take residency in our shoes. A few gentle kicks of the shoes gets them active and moving – I’m not particularly sure if I should be proud of this but my shoes had significantly more mosquitoes squatters than my partners. Still a win is a win. Out appears Batty, multiple electric crackles later and big satisfied smile one my face, I left the house. Day 6: Opened the front door for the morning routine and zapped two immediately. Not sure if I’ll ever get bored of this. Day 7: Running shoes left out overnight as usual, humid morning after rain – six or seven mosquitoes living in them. Batty made quick work of those.
The morning shoe-kick-and-zap has become a daily ritual. Oddly enjoyable.
It may be obvious to you, the reader, but it took me multiple days to realise leaving your shoes right outside your front door probably isn’t the wisest move, if you don’t uninvited guests coming in when you open the door. Thinking about it, that rule probably doesn’t just apply to mosquitoes.
What we actually bought – and what works
The electric mosquito bat is one of your most important, and probably most satisfying, purchases, in a tropical home. A few things we’ve learned from testing:
Bigger head = greater surface area = higher chance of making contact. This sounds obvious but many bats are surprisingly small. Rechargeable models have noticeably more power than battery ones – that satisfying crack when you make contact is considerably more satisfying, and you know you’ve got one. Keep several around the house. You’ll use them more than you expect.
The heat pen – bought in Malaysia, uncertain about the science, but it does seem to take the edge off a fresh bite if applied quickly. Inconclusive verdict, will keep testing.
Drain covers – simple, cheap, and one of the most effective things you can do. Unused outdoor drains are prime breeding territory. Cover them. Bleach down the ones that aren’t regularly used.
The fan – underrated
A decent standing fan does two useful things: makes it harder for mosquitoes to land on you, and as we discovered on Day 9, turns them into confused, wall-bouncing disasters that are considerably easier to bat. Watched one flying repeatedly into the wall like it had lost all sense of purpose, then found it hanging upside down on the curtain. Triple crackle when the bat connected. Very satisfying.
Under the table: the forgotten danger zone
Day 7 observation worth sharing: fans don’t reach under tables. After a day out, feet are warm and well-travelled. In the shade under a table, you are essentially offering a gourmet meal with table service. Keep feet in the light, or keep a bat within reach.
Day 8: the beer tax
Had some visitors over. Doors opened and closed, nets drawn quickly each time. Still ended up with five or six bites overnight – itchy enough to keep me up for long periods of the night. Found the culprit the next morning, hiding in the en suite, pressed against a dark red towel. Closed the door. Retrieved Batty. Justice was served, and it had apparently been busy – full of blood.
We think they might crackle more when they’ve fed. Unverified. Felt true at the time.
One week in – what we know
The mosquitoes were here before us and they’re not going anywhere. But a week of observation has already produced a working routine: the morning shoe patrol, the pre-shower sweep, drain covers on everything unused, fans running, bats within reach in every room.
It’s not a perfect system. It’s a functioning one. And it improves every day.
At least Batty seems to be having fun.
We’ll keep updating as rainy season approaches and our garden experiments develop – including the guppy pond, the dragonfly stakes, and whatever else the next few months throw at us. Follow along via the blog, or head to our full mosquito control guide if you want the complete picture.