Mosquito repellent plates - how they work and how to use them

Operating principle

The product is made in the form of flat rectangular strips of cardboard impregnated with the active substance. The plates are activated using special fumigator devices due to heating and evaporation of toxic impregnation.

The product retains its anti-mosquito effect for 8 hours, after which it changes color to white. The maximum area of the room covered by protective fumes is 20 m2.

The plates are produced in sets of 10 pieces, each of which is sealed in a sealed compartment. The product contains fragrances to give the product a pleasant aroma and insecticides:

D-allethrin and its derivative esbiotrin. The substance paralyzes the nervous system of mosquitoes and leads to their death.
DEET. A universal toxin that destroys most insect pests.
Isopropanol An alcohol whose toxic effect exceeds that of ethanol. Along with the plates, it is part of aerosol sprays against mosquitoes.
Prallethrin. A synthetic pyrethroid that instantly kills blood-sucking insects.

As additional components, natural repellents are added to the impregnation for the plates - extracts and essential oils of chamomile, cloves, eucalyptus and other plants that repel insects in the wild.

What is a fumigator

A fumigator is an electrical device that is designed to kill mosquitoes and midges in an apartment, and not only. The plates or liquid installed in it, under the influence of heat, begin to emit an insecticide that affects flying insects.

How to use a fumigator

Based on the principle of operation, they can be divided into two categories:

Pyrotechnic. These can be spirals or plates impregnated with chemicals. If you set fire to such a spiral, clouds of smoke with a slightly specific smell will begin to emerge from it.
Electrical. These devices are based on a microresistor, which heats up to a certain temperature when connected to a source of electricity.

Advantages and disadvantages

Plates are considered one of the most popular mosquito control products due to the following benefits:

Ease of use.
Speed of action.
Protects all people in the room.
High efficiency.
Long period of protection against insect bites.
Low price.
Compact and easy to transport.

The weak points of the insecticide in this form include:

can only be used in rooms where electricity is connected;
small radius of action - within one room;
the need for constant ventilation of the room;
The smell during fumigation seems unpleasant to some people;
temporary limitation - you cannot leave the product working indoors continuously throughout the day;
toxicity when the maximum concentration in the atmosphere is exceeded;
insecticides contained in the plates are deadly to fish and reptiles.

Raptor

The Raptor plates contain ethok (trade name for the synthetic insecticide prallethrin). This modern Japanese substance is moderately toxic and does not cause allergenic effects. There is no smell at all.

However, it is advisable to use it for no more than 2 hours. The manufacturer recommends such safety measures.

Packages of 10 pieces are available for sale. with a nice bonus - 2 more plastics as a gift. This is undoubtedly beneficial. Minus: without scissors, removing the contents of the package is problematic.

Danger to the body

The product in the form of plates is not a dangerous product, but it is used with caution in areas where people live and rest:

people with individual intolerance to the components of the insecticidal preparation;
children under 3 years old;
women during pregnancy and breastfeeding;
people suffering from chronic respiratory diseases;
asthmatics and allergy sufferers.

Increased concentrations of insecticides in the air lead to side effects:

headache;
dizziness;
nausea;
increased salivation;
sore throat;
difficulty breathing and swelling of the nasopharynx;
inflammation of the mucous membranes;
allergic dermatitis.

If any of the symptoms persist for 24 hours even after eliminating the source of the toxins, the affected person is referred to a doctor.

Rules of application

To activate the mosquito killer, you need to take the following steps:

Open the packaging of the plates, remove one of them without violating the tightness of the packaging of the others.
Insert the product into the special groove of the fumigator with the metallized side down. In most models of devices, the recess for the plate is horizontal, but there are devices where the body rotates for ease of installation.
Plug in the electric fumigator.

Before using the product, you must carefully read the instructions for use and check the expiration date.

The plates will kill mosquitoes, but will not cause harm to human health if the following recommendations for use are followed:

The fumigator with insecticide must not be placed in close proximity (closer than 1.5 m) to beds, sofas and resting places for people and pets.
The product may only be activated in a ventilated area.
The effect of insecticides is enhanced if the fumigator is positioned in the direction of air flow (near an open window).
It is not recommended to block the operating device with pieces of furniture or curtains, since such actions reduce the efficiency of processing.
You can add a mosquito repellent effect to the insecticidal effect by dropping 2 drops of essential oil of clove, lavender, anise or citronella onto the plate in the switched on fumigator.
It is advisable to plug in the plate fumigator 30–40 minutes before bedtime.

Correct and safe use of fumigators

Most of us are very familiar with devices such as fumigators. After all, many of us consider them an ideal device against mosquitoes and flies.

But not everyone knows that they can be dangerous if used incorrectly. It is mandatory to read the instructions for use; when using, you should adhere to the following recommendations:

The package must be opened. Take out the fumigator, as well as the plates or liquid.
The plates are then placed on a heating plate. When using liquid, you must insert the bottle into the device and secure it.
Next, the plug of the device is inserted into the socket, but be sure to ensure the correct position of the liquid, which should be in a vertical position, and the position of the plates, which should be on top. Fumigators have a movable part with a fork, which, if necessary, turns in the desired direction.
You should open a window or window to allow free access of fresh air into the room.
You need to make sure that the device is not blocked by anything, for example, furniture or large objects.
Do not allow water to enter the device.
Devices should not be placed in areas where children have access.
Some models have an automatic shut-off feature. If the device does not have this function, you should ensure that it is unplugged from the outlet after use.

The plates must be replaced daily with new ones, relative to the bottle of liquid; the expiration dates are indicated on the packaging. Replacement can only be made when the fumigator is switched off.

When replacing a plate, there is no need to remove the used one; you should insert a new one, and it will push out the old one. Used plates and vials must be disposed of.

Devices should not be left turned on overnight in children's rooms. They can work in the evening for 2-3 hours, after which they turn off.

Proven means

Popular plates on the repellent market that have proven their effectiveness:

Raptor. Plates made in Italy with an active substance called ethoc (prallethrin).
Raptor Nekusayka. The product is intended for use in children's rooms, since it is based on a natural insecticide - pyrethrum (Dalmatian chamomile flowers). It begins to have a toxic effect on mosquitoes within 10–15 minutes after being plugged into the network. May be used in a ventilated area overnight.
Raid. The plates are available in variations: without fragrance, with the aroma of eucalyptus and pine needles. Valid for up to 8 hours.
Moskitol. The esbiotrin-based product is odorless and destroys the first individuals of blood-sucking insects 10–12 minutes after activation. It works continuously for 10 hours, but 60–90 minutes are enough to completely clean a ventilated area from pests. The substance causes an allergic reaction, so it is used with caution.
Picnic. The Family and Baby series fumigator kits differ in the concentration of the insecticidal agent. The composition also includes chamomile extracts, citronella and tea tree oil.

Is there any harm from the plates to humans and children?

Some of these products have an unpleasant odor when they dry, which can cause nausea and even allergies in a person. Therefore, it is extremely important to purchase plates only from trusted manufacturers. For example, the best options that may be suitable are those that are produced either completely odorless or with an aromatic effect. There are plates with the scent of green tea, the aromas of some herbs (lavender is very popular), as well as citrus plants. But the most frequently purchased on the market are mosquito repellent plates that have no odor.

Despite the fact that manufacturers guarantee complete safety of using insecticidal plates, it is nevertheless necessary to remember about the individual characteristics of the body, intolerance to a particular substance contained in the impregnation of the plate. Children should not be allowed near the plates at all, especially small ones, who can put it in their mouth, which will cause poisoning. Therefore, keep such things away from small children. The same applies, by the way, to the fumigator itself, into which the mosquito repellent plate is inserted. But you can also buy special children’s plates - for example, “Nekusayka” from Rapotor, “Gentle Protection” from Moskitol or “Nezhenka” from Fumitox.

How to use plates without a fumigator

In cases where there are mosquito repellent plates, but the fumigator is broken or missing, proceed as follows:

Place the product with the metallized side (if provided for by the design of the plate) on a hot surface. For such purposes, an iron, a central heating radiator, or an incandescent lamp are suitable.
If the repellent is to be used outdoors, then the plate is set on fire and extinguished so that smoldering occurs, but there is no flame. This method is not used indoors due to the high toxicity of the product when burned.

Mosquito repellent plates are an effective remedy that instantly destroys annoying insects indoors, repelling pests for a long time. When interacting with such a product, you should follow the rules for handling insecticides.

If you use a fumigator with plates strictly according to the instructions, then a person will not have any health problems, just as bites from bloodsuckers will not appear.

Types of plates

Many people are interested in what these plates are. These are cardboard strips impregnated with a chemical agent that are inserted into electric fumigators. In appearance they differ little from each other. The main difference is the composition of the insecticide that impregnates the mosquito plates. The main active ingredients that manufacturers use in the manufacture of insect repellent are:

Esbiotrin. It affects the nervous system of flying and crawling parasites, as a result of which nerve conduction and muscle activity are disrupted, leading to the death of insects.
Prallethrin. This is a chemical insecticide from the pyrethroid group, the effect of which is to kill mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects.
DEET. This substance acts on the nervous and respiratory systems, repels and destroys not only mosquitoes, flies, horse flies, fleas, but also small animals.
Flavors and plant extracts. They are used for scent.

Mosquito repellent plates impregnated with these substances actively affect the sense of smell and block the ability to smell sweat and the air exhaled by a person.

Interesting!
Mosquitoes have good navigational and sensory abilities. They can travel long distances in search of food. They smell human sweat 5 km away, and body heat and exhaled carbon dioxide 50 meters away, so insects always accurately find their prey.

Insect repellents
But if mosquito repellents have such a strong effect on insects, can they be considered safe for human health? After all, they do not act specifically on a mosquito or fly, but on the most important systems of animals and arthropods. The human body is also sensitive to poisonous toxic substances. Therefore, the question of whether mosquito repellent plates are harmful to humans is quite relevant. It is impossible to give a definite answer.