I'll declare an interest to start. They don't work as well as mosquito coils, that's those compressed wood, smouldering green swirls that give off a thick smoke designed to envelope the lucky person and deter any kami kazi biting insects. I have seen these work against the mozzies of Southern France and the midges of Scotland, so a better test you could not find.
Unfortunately, the side effects are dire, creating coughing fits and watering eyes in all but the hardiest forty-a-day smoker. In most instances this leads to all others evacuating the area covered, to a clean air zone, only to find clouds of frustrated insects have massed, waiting for their nightly feast of human blood.
Like all legislation, the anti smoking laws had unintended consequences. The massive reduction in the smoking population has left travellers vulnerable to the attack of millions of 1cm whistling doodle bugs. I have yet to read of any experiments with electric cigarettes that suggests their great plumes of water vapour have the same deterrent effect that tobacco had on the midge. And there lay the original dilemma; smoke a lot and ruin your lungs, but be midge free, or rely on choking mosquito coils?
Which is where citronella candles were supposed to be the big new saviour for human kind. Now you see them in every guise, thick candles, thin candles, candles in cups, candles in tins, candles to hang up and candles in the top of tall bamboo poles to stick in the ground.
Currently we have a 'Two Ronnies' arrangement, (see picture and try to keep up), on a campsite in South West France. The verdict?
Inconclusive. There are no mosquitos over the table but one just whined past my ear.
Feel free to add your experiences.
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