Insect Infestation

[s/v Moondancer]

We are very careful with cleanliness and keep cardboard, a source of cockroach eggs off the boat but recently we have had an infestation of very small, 1-2 mm, bugs.

Over the last week we have noticed a marked reduction in the bug count and yesterday we discovered the cause...

We have acquired a small pet gecko! if we develop an infestation of cockroaches we may need to acquire an iguana!

[Sparx]

When we lived in Singapore it was considered good luck to have a gecko living in the house, for that reason. Our house gecko lived behind the curtains and came out at night to chase down all manner of pests.

[Steadman Uhlich]

I would much prefer to have a gecko aboard as a shipmate, than a bunch of bugs!

Natural pest control.
When I lived in Miami and on Hilton Head, the geckos were my friends.

[scarlet]

I always wondered why boaters don't treat their boats like an exterminator treats your house... We have an exterminator come every 3 months for preventative. Wouldn't that take care of bugs? or, can't you "bug bomb" your boat every few months?

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by scarlet

I always wondered why boaters don't treat their boats like an exterminator treats your house... We have an exterminator come every 3 months for preventative. Wouldn't that take care of bugs? or, can't you "bug bomb" your boat every few months?

Some people do bomb if they have a bad infestation, but you basically want to clear out all of your food, clothing...pretty much everything you can. And personally the less pesticides layered on top of every surface of the interior of my boat, the better.

[zeehag]

the best way to keep bugs off boat is gekkos and traps. btw--they FLY!!!!!!(coocooroches)
iguanas donot eat bugs, they do eat fruit. if you keep fruit in cockpit you will find rats..oopsy.
i prefer gekkos and traps personally as rats are a serious bitch.
with cats, luckily, the field rats stay on coachhouse roof and are easily removed from boat. thank my 2 cats for this practicality. is seriously good that rats donot intrude into the homes of catties. sticky traps make excellent insurance for that as well.
so. welcome to pair a dice. intruders are our tax for this privilege of being in pleasantville. seems the better time you have, the more plagues you experience. is a unique challenge, as most marinas are in construction zones or next to fields.
and donot forget the termite trees.... oopsy...