John&Joey
Northern MN
(Baby it's cold outside)
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Joined: 05/20/2007
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Since these little flying insects aren't in MN (at least that I know of) can someone give me a little knowledge on them and RV's. I was sitting behind the MH yesterday when I saw a strange bug (to me) walking up a tree. Seemed like two parts and blue'ies/black. When I googled Mud Dauber the picture sure did look like what I saw.
My question is this. What do I need to do to protect the RV from the little buggers that I hear so much about. Are they a problem this time of year? or just in the summer months. I did put a store bought screen on the furnace already, but not the HW or fridge. Should I make the effort to buy them, or can I just buy screen from the local hardware store and accomplish the same thing?
I'm in MN all summer, but currently in Texas for the winter.
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fisher60
Plant City, Florida
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Joined: 03/23/2006
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Yep, can be a problem. Screen up the furnace & water heater. You'll likely have to conjure up something your self for the fridge. I've never seen a store bought one. But the rascals can cause your appliances to not work.
'01 Dutchman Express 28A, Master Tow, '06 Tuscon, '05 Honda VTX 1300
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bigbubba1959
Illinois
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Joined: 09/04/2007
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They are a wasp........... They build there nest with mud and just about anywhere that would be away from the rain. They are usually in garages, wood sheds etc. They do love the furnace outlets. So this is why they sell a cover for that vent. They will also build in the an open hitch area. So you may want to buy a cover for that or leave your hitch in.
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Dutch_12078
Great Sacandaga Lake, NY
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Joined: 10/07/2008
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The "store bought" screens have a larger open area than standard window screening, allowing for a better air flow. There are screens made for most appliance openings, including refrigerator access vents.
Mud dauber screens
Dutch
'95 Coachmen Catalina 322XL
F-53 chassis, 460 V8
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John&Joey
Northern MN
(Baby it's cold outside)
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Any truth to the statement that a flea and tick collar placed in the access compartment (fridge) will also help? or is that just an old wise tale?
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Finally Fulltiming
Summer: Finger Lakes, NY; Winter: Somewhere warm
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Joined: 12/08/2003
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Don't know for sure, but doesn't seem to me wasps would be concerned with flea & tick chemicals. But anyway, the screens work great.
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vic46
Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
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Joined: 09/13/2007
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mud_dauber
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old guy
Oregon (pronounced Or e gun)
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Joined: 03/15/2006
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You not only have to screen the water heater and the furnace a but the hole in the end of the sewer tube. AND any place else on the TT that the little things want to made a nest. I've seen them under my TT in the frame and the fridge cover and the cover on the roof for the fridge. any place, I mean it, fender wells just have to look and find them and spray the devil out of them.
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FloridaNomad
Florida
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Joined: 09/06/2006
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We got lots of them in Florida. I found a way to keep them from building nests in my water heater and refrigerator. I simply put a few dryer sheets (bounce) in the compartments. Place them where there is no danger for them to catch fire. Before I started using these sheets I was always cleaning out the nests.
There still build other places, ie, today I found a huge nest on the rear door of my trailer.
Judy KB5GXI and Ray Wallace K4DAB aka Floridanomad
Coachmen Denali/ Chevy 2500 diesel with Allison Transmission
Reese dual cam
Old Town, Florida
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Chuck&Gail
In the Colorado Mountains
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Joined: 06/16/2004
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Lots of crazy mud daubers around here. We use RV store bought screens on furnace, water heater, and fridge openings.
I use flea collar pieces when TT is stored to keep out flies, ants, etc. Was suggested to me by another poster. Sure seems to help, but I doubt it will bother daubers.
Chuck
Wonderful Wife
Lovely German Shepherd.
1999 Mercedes ML320 TV
2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded)
Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories.
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