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Does DEET repel crane flies and June bugs? (hexbear.net)

submitted 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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These little shits keep entering my bedroom somehow. They are harmless and literally do not have mouths to bite with, but holy shit they are horrifying. They aimlessly buzz around, bumping into shit, landing on walls, occasionally landing on me. The Crane Fly especially is fucking creepy, nothing ruins my ability to sleep at night more than randomly seeing a Crane Fly on the wall next to me.

I assume they are entering through a tiny hole in my window screen, but I can't find it. I need to be able to open my window or my room gets unbearably hot and stuffy, can I just douse the window with DEET spray every night to deter them? Any more permanent and more lethal solutions?

I literally do not care if whatever insecticide is most effective is also a peopleicide, I do not care if it will double my risk of dying of cancer.

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 7 months ago

Reporting this for anti-arthropod sentiment bug-facts

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

The problem is not you getting cancer its the bioaccumulation in things that eat things that die to pesticides. It has a knock on effect that you are not seeing or can account for, and no DEET is not kill crane flies.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 7 months ago

you're thinking of other chemicals. DEET doesn't really bioaccumulate, since its a repellent not a pesticide

[–] [email protected] 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

They might be getting in through the edges of the screen frame, especially it's a shitty aluminum frame that frequently get kinks where bugs could squeeze through because people don't take them out properly. June bugs could absolutely get in through a small gap if it isn't tight in the window frame. But crane flies are also very easy to catch in a cup if you wait for them to land on the wall. I'm not sure if it's when they're near the end of their life span and lethargic but I've scooped some up in my hand and they just sat there until I tossed them outside.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

They're all over my house too. meow-cactus Crane flies creep me out because they look like giant mosquitos (but I'd still rather have them than mosquitos).