Small heaters that warm a coil of mosquito insecticide to create a vapour fail on two counts: they do not spread the insecticide effectively around a room, and the insecticide does not stick to the bug. But the University of Southampton and home care company Reckitt Benckiser have an answer.
In US patent application 2004/0154214, they describe an electric air ioniser that sends a flow of negatively charged ions over a gel pad soaked in a slowly released volatile insecticide. The ions charge the insecticide molecules, ensuring they stick electrostatically to target insects. And the draught from the ioniser ensures…
