Insects on Cinque Terre or Amalfi coast?

Mosquitos can be a problem in Italy. We take a plug in mosquito repellant which we switch on in our bedroom with the windows shut when we go to dinner. After that we are able to sleep with the window open if we wish and not get bitten.

If you are self catering on the Amalfi Coast there may also be a problem with ants, but a spray bought from a local supermarket will do the trick.

Are mosquitos a problem even in the heat of July and on the coast where there is an ocean breeze?

We travel to the Sorrento area regularly and stay either in clff top hotels/apartments in town or in the hills above the town. We have stayed in the months April to June and Sept to November and usually encounter the little critters to a greater or lesser extent. I don't think the higher temps in July/August would put them off but, without any knowledge of the life cycle and habits of the mosquito, I stand to be corrected.

Just remember not to leave bedroom windows open with the lights on or you will have company. Some of the hotels we stayed at provided mosquito coils in the bedroom.

BTW I have been bitten in Venice in October so it is not just the Amalfi Coast/Bay of Naples.

James, could we have some documentation to back this up, please.

Well done, James. Just as I suspected.

Great story, James and a gracious reply from Norma.

We were in the CQ last September, and did not encounter any pesky insects. Thank goodness!

I would like to know more about Linda-from-Bromley's plug in mosquito repellant. Anyone else familiar with this?

Here you go. As I said we switch it on, with the window shut, when we go to dinner and open the window when we get back.

http://www.boots.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?categoryParentId=3893&storeId=10052&productId=8618&callingViewName=&categoryId=4152&langId=-1&catalogId=11051

Linda,
I'm also trying to check out your suggestion, but I'm wondering if they don't make this available in the U.S. When I put in the website address, it automatically changes to www.us.boot.com and when I search the site for "mosquito" or "repellant", I'm told there's no such product. Could you give us the product name? Maybe I can use it for our mosquitoes in northern Minnesota!

Thank you, Linda!

Hmmm. I guess my recollection is that insects in Cinque Terre and Amalfi have never once been on my mind while there...suggesting to me that they're not a major hassle. May depend on the wind, and the amount of rain recently fallen, too?

Cindy - It is called "Repel Liquid mosquito killer" and is made by a British company "Boots" who also own a big drugstore chain in the UK. From what you say though it does not look like they sell it in the USA although the instructions say it is suitable for use there. I think they used to sell their products in Canada but don't know whether that is still the case. Try using "Repel" in the search box on the website.

The unit looks like a large oblong electric plug with a lit "on/off" switch. The repellant is a clear liquid in a small bottle (lasts for 45 x 8 hour periods) which is screwed into the base of the unit. It cannot be used in conjunction with air conditioning as the vapour gets sucked out of the room. I suppose you could turn the a/c off, switch on the gizmo for a couple of hours to kill any little beasties already in the room, then turn it back on again before going to bed.

The key ingredient is Prallethrin 0.87%w/w.

In the past we have used electric plug-ins that use insecticide tablets with a fair degree of success and they seem to be widely available.

Sorry I can't be of more help.

Thanks for the specifics, Linda! If I can't find the same thing, I'm sure I can find something comparable now since I know more about it. Thank you!

In Venice you will have mosquitoes. Not bad,... not like Michigan. 10 minutes with a rolled newspaper and you can clear them from a room.

Other than there, Florence, Milan, Rome, Amalfi, Capri, and even Paestum, not much in the way of biting insects middle of June to the first week in July.

Bugs in Europe? I have experienced very few, and have NEVER seen a mosquito on my six trips to Italy! I expect there aren't any screens in the windows because there aren't any bugs...though we did pick up a scorpion in our luggage during a stay in the Cinque Terre!