Why aren't there any bug screens on the windows in New Zealand?

Question

Half the buildings here don't have air conditioning so you have to open the windows to keep from roasting to death, but I have yet to see a single window with a bug screen. There are flys, moths, and mosquitos everywhere in my apartment. So what gives? Why no bug screens?

Answer 1

You could always put one in its not that expensive.

Answer 2

Yikes!

Where are you from and where are you living?

Our house is an old villa, and we bought screens with magnetic edges to put in a couple of windows.

But we haven't bothered to do anything about the other windows, mainly because we don't have a big fly or moth problem, and certainly no problems with mosquitoes.  I haven't even heard (or felt) a mosquito since I moved to NZ.

It never gets too hot here, and it's usually breezy so we always have windows or doors open unless it's raining.  Sometimes the flies come in but we just swat them.  

One of my neighbours has a Robocan set-up but I'm not too familiar with how it works.

Some of our friends live on the West Coast where the sand flies get big as birds, and they had screens installed in their home out of necessity.

I guess if you have to leave your windows open, you better get some gauzy-type curtains to trap the big ones that are flying in.  

You can buy mosquito netting to drape over you bed, which lends a certain 'mystique' as well as being practical.  

Make sure you don't leave food sitting out (especially pet food) or have smelly garbage cans which attract the bugs.  

That, and practice economy by not having a lot of lights on to draw them in.  Maybe then they'll fly into your neighbours' windows.

If it's that big of a deal, maybe you better ask your landlord for assistance, or else think about shifting to the SI.

Good luck,

=)

Answer 3

I know, I know. They will have their houses fumigated every year but the idea of screens just hasn't taken on here. We don't generally have much problem with mosquitos - not like Australia, nor are the fly problems as bad as Australia either.  However if you were in my area you would discover that I have screens. And for anyone who is thinking of ever having them put in, Venluree (I think that's how it is spelt) do the best job. Had some put in by another company and they were not very good, next lot - different house, used Venluree. It isn't that I had mosquitos but it was just that, being Australian, I thought it a great way to keep flys out.

Answer 4

I lived in NZ for years ... no one I knew had ceiling fans or screens on the windows, for bugs or security, it's just never taken off in NZ .... yet