Are Fly Screens worth the money?

Definitely a fly screen on the sliding door and all windows. Only this last week we were in Oxfordshire on a CL surrounded with trees and hedges. There were a few too many wasps around for our likeing. We were in the van, all windows and sliding door open and all fly screens in use. One or two wasps kept on coming onto the fly screens and would presumably have come in if screens were not there.  I don’t think they will stop midges but are really useful against other bugs.

Memo to self: buy one of those tennis racket shaped electronic fly swats.

Depends where you're going but temperature in Europe, especially in the south can be very high, the middle of Italy is currently over 40C, so your campervan will be come very hot and very warm or stuffy at night. There will be a variety of insects to deal with some of whom like the taste of blood.  

Relations with MH in Italy always have flyscreens and I've seen them used them a lot. 

Over the last 20 years I've had 5 caravans, all with fly screens on windows and door. I would not be without them.

Colin

Definitely fit them to windows and your sliding door and to any opening roof vents as well. They’re invaluable in Scotland in the midge season so will be absolutely essential in hot climates in my opinion.

If you have the means to power it, a fan will be a useful addition as well.

Good luck on your journey. 👍

Yes, especially if going to Southern Europe and North Africa, for keeping out mosquitos if nothing else. I would also take mosquito coils and we have a wee electric mosquito repellent device. Also carry a can of 'knock down ' flyspray to rid the van of biting insects if some manage to get in(they will!)

As Lukeledge says mosquito coils and a can of insect spray. We usually buy abroad as the products available there seem to be more effective than those available in the UK. 

As for the "wee electric mosquito repellent device" I had one of those many years ago but I found it didn't work.  A friend also had one and found the same as me, but he reckoned that it worked well as an elephant deterrent as they never troubled him 😁.

On a more serious note, Deet treated mozzie nets can be very useful in some regions as can Deet repellent, but keep it away from certain fabrics as it can cause them to rot.  

As regards mosquitos, if we are in any doubt they are about or still water is nearby, at night we have a plug in deterrent that you slide little tabs into. These come individually wrapped in foil. These seem to be effective.

Outside we have a Citronella oil burner for sitting out at night.

Avon Skin So Soft is also excellent and a bottle of this lives permanently in the van.

Colin

Agree with folk and eM re Avon skin so soft it works well over here and yes to door fly screens.

We have had a lot of very small black flies not midges and they do bite and we have the Tiger Mosquitoes here but you can get insect repellent for them here in France, as to bad bites I have found that a bottle of Lavender essential oil is the best thing to put on them as I tried it last week when bitten the swelling and itching went instantly so will be putting that in my toilet bag when we are away.

A nice tip about the Lavender Oil.  I may give it a try.  The more conventional treatments are antihistamine cream or hydrocortisone cream, a corticosteroid, both readily available OTC.  

Incidentally OP, beware of processionary caterpillar, especially if you are taking a dog with you.

I'd forgotten about after the event. We carry Anthisan bite & sting cream along with whatever hay fever tablets are cheapest. 

Colin