Turn the light off, the window's open!

[SausageinaBun]

We've got windows open to cool down our house. But apparently that means we have to sit in darkness to avoid bugs coming in. I don't remember having that rule when I was a child - it's a DH thing that my DDs are now obsessed with too. All 3 of them do hate bugs, I'm the house spider remover.

So is this normal or just my family?

Ah, I grew up in London so there weren't nearly as many insects. I genuinely hadn't seen a thunderbug until I went to university. So we must have been ok to keep windows open to let all that lovely polluted air in without insects coming in. We don't live in London now, so I guess DH has a point.

I agree with your dh. I turn lights on low and close curtains at least.

We would be invaded by midges and hornets more than we usually are, so I pull across voiles if lights are on.

Midges and biters I'm plenty in London

So last night I was lay in bed in the dark with the window wide open and the moth was attracted to the light from screen of my phone. It’s flew at my mouth ( cos I’m half blind phone was right by my face ) so mention to your DH and kids incase the bugs get them that way too ;)

That's normal. I get net screens for doirs and windows I open

*doors obviously

I not sure there were back in the 1980s. It was much more obviously polluted back then. A day out in central London always meant your snot was black by the end of the day. That doesn't seem to happen any more.

@Fordian Ah yes dead fly pie. not just on the screen but number plate too. It's something like that that brings you up short and makes you realise that (I think) we have reached the tipping point. This isn't a rehearsal. Environmental degradation is already here

Another yes but for mosquitoes not so much other bugs

I'm like that. You can have the windows open or the lights on. Hate having insects in and it's me who usually has to deal with them.

I challenge you to go and watch the last episode of Inside No 9. OP

Nope, we get a fair few in Derbyshire. Last night my dd nearly had a bat in her room; it came right up to the open window! Can’t say I’m obsessed with shutting curtains, but do tend to leave lights off if the window is open.

We still have a lamp on. But curtains closed. Works fine!
in our bedroom, in the run up to bedtime, the window is open, curtain closed, lights offc door closed and fan on - makes for a cool room to retreat to for bed, with no moths etc.

That's me...can't stand moths/daddy longlegs/spiders...so it's either the windows or the lights. Drives DH mad.

its those big buzzy flies - maybe blue bottles - that annoy me here when I open windows. Can’t seem to get rid of them without resorting to fly spray. They buzz so loud and fly so fast!! We do get loads of moths though if the lights are on and windows opened. My kids prefer to not have lights on though so less of an issue. They also hate bugs. My other main issue is my main window downstairs in one room is a sliding door type so if I open it I get random cars and dogs wandering in 🤦‍♀️. Usually the elderly dog walker who’s dog is off quicker than they are and are quite apologetic when they’ve noticed I’ve had to send it back out. Cats on the other hand - they’re obviously not being walked so are proper chancers.

As a child, you absolutely did have a room full of flying insects if you had a light on and the windows open. I was born in '62.

Now- none.

If you're 60, you'll recall windscreens a mass of squished bugs on any longer journey. Now? Nothing.

We are in serious trouble.

The insects are gone.

I’m not disagreeing that we have a problem, but my car is properly covered in bugs from one journey. I’m up north though, maybe that makes a difference.

@Fordian i was born in the 70s but remember the same. It’s really quite sobering 😢

Not around my way....I wish.....had a few in but the other night one so big I could hear its wings flapping (even above my screams as it dive bombed me)😩i googled and think it was a hawkmoth🤔

We've got magnetic screens on the windows so that you can open the window without bugs!