Hi Heads. Last evening, on chat, we had a discussion going and various opinions were expressed as to why it is that insects are attracted to fresh paint. This wasn't really resolved, but one possible explaination was offered by Monte that seemed to make a bit of sense. He contended that it was because the paint smelled like a female insect, and so the other bugs were attracted. The thing is, I've never checked to determine the gender of them bugs sticking to my panels, so I have some doubts about that theory.
The one thing I have noticed, is that it seems to matter little as to what kind of paint you are using. They seem to like all types and colors.
Can any of you offer an explaination as to why wet paint attracts insects, and have any of you found any additive that will prevent this from happening?
Posted by Linda Silver Eagle (Member # 274) on :
I moved my light.
Actually I clipped it to my rolling table, and pointed it toward the copy I had yet to letter and was able to letter and keep rolling along without incident.
Posted by Bob Rochon (Member # 30) on :
Funny post.
We always get dem bugs too, doesn't matter if there is light or not. seems as if the gassing or fumes from the paint takes the wind right out of thier sails.
Kamikazi fruit flies~
Posted by David Wright (Member # 111) on :
I don't agree with Monte. I have been checking for years, and and last tally: 55% females / 45% males.
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Hey Ken,
The females like pink. The boy bugs prefer blue.
The best way I have found is to paint at night or in a darkened room with the light source at the opposite end of the room. This attracts the bugs away from the paint area. When I finish painting, I shut off the lights and leave. That way they can't see what color it is.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
LOL...if you think color doesn't matter, just paint something yellow on a hot summer evening in humid Oklahoma...you'll get every bee species mosquito and june bug from "Miles Around" Oklahoma.
I just pick them off in the morning (hope they didn't track to far)and scrape off the spare legs with a single edge rasor blade held on edge.
Hey these trade secrets aint free ya'know...yer turn!
[ November 19, 2001: Message edited by: Monte Jumper ]
Posted by Bill Preston (Member # 1314) on :
Hey, Ken,
Bugs and paint-- they go together like mustard and hot dogs, pony tails and circle skirts, saddle shoes and bobby sox, soda joints and juke boxes, etc.
What can one say about bugs? they are not too "swift"-- they require six legs in order to stand up (spiders are even worse, they need eight and still spend a lot of time hanging by a thread) They get swacked on paint fumes and can't walk, so, they try to fly, and usually land face down or flat on their back in the paint.
Even lightning bugs aren't too bright, headlight in the rear notwithstanding.Why would any self-respecting bug want to see only where he has been whilst flying into a solid object in front of himself in the dark?
If said bug lands on his back, all is not lost. Just pick him off the wet paint by grabbing him by his wildly waving legs-- try for at least four. If he is on his face, apply the same technique to his wildly waving wings. If all else fails, leave him, let the paint dry, and pick off his dead body. Be sure he is dead. Depending on which side is up you could get stung or bit. Whatever is left is usually too small to detract much from your sign.
Tonights lesson in entomology with an aside in observations about arachnids.
Posted by John Smith (Member # 1308) on :
Only problem I have with bugs is when they bounce off my monitor into my BEER !!!! I've tried moving my can back, left, and right, but, they still find their way into my suds !!! Guess I will have to start covering the can with a tuna can like I do when I am sandblasting outside to keep the sand out of the brew !
Posted by George Perkins (Member # 156) on :
Hahahaha, Monte, I'll back you up on the yellow deal Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
congratulations, this post has won the coveted "Gilded Turd Award"
the gilded turd awards brought to you by... splashsigns and markfair.com
void where prohibited.
a tip, if you add mazeppa rain to your paint, bugs will not be attracted. LOL
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
I think it's an unwritten bug law that if they land in paint they have to: 1) Be BIG 2) Be Strong 3) Complete a minimum of 40" of backstroke before perishing.
Posted by Ken Henry (Member # 598) on :
Gee Mark, thanks ever so much for that award. Do you think if I hang it up far enough away from the fresh paint that it might help keep the flies off? Maybe I'll even try a whole pailful.
Posted by timi NC (Member # 576) on :
Actually it serves tha lil suckers right when they start that dance of death,....they ought to know better than to try & mess up my paint! I'm with Monte lettem die a slow hard death & cut tha corpse away tha next morning.
Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
Hi, this is John from Big Top Graphics in B.C. Re bugs, yeah, they do like the fresh letter, but if you can catch them before they land..... When I see one hovering, I go after him/her with my brush (a flat works better than a quill, more area) and just tap the bug. Once on the brush, just pallet it off and keep on lettering! Later, mount the pallet on the den wall and you got big time trophy action.
Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :
Well bugs in your paint is much better than ants in your pants. But all ya gotta do is scrape the little suckers off when the paint dries with a razor. Sometimes you have to go over it a couple times to get all the legs. Seems like the daddy long legs are the ones I am always scraping off.
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
we just might be millionaires with this idea ken!!!
make something that stinks to high heaven, wrapped in celophane.
the sign person simply tears open the end of the bag and places on a stick, approx. 28" away from freshly painted substrate, and all winged insects will flock!
ken, don't tell anyone else about our idea.... okay???
bubba
sorry i had to edit my post but an important disclaimer should be presented at this point...
Stick Not Included!
[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Fair Signs ]
Posted by Gavin Chachere (Member # 1443) on :
Well you guys obviously don't live in cockroach country like here...try rolling a 4x10 right b4 you go home to avoid a buncha dust, insects ,whatever.... only to get back in the a.m. to find that a nice 3in long one has dropped in, of course at one end, and made a nice track about 4ft long and 4-5inches wide... b/c he decided he could free himself by flapping his wings at 100,000rpms which of course pulled off and sunk flat with the surface right b4 the *&%&^$&#&*&(*&^(*&!@# thing flipped itself upside down and died...
[ November 20, 2001: Message edited by: Gavin Chachere ]
Posted by Mark Fair Signs (Member # 289) on :
hey gavin, you are getting a little too technical.
bubba
Posted by AdrienneMorgan (Member # 1046) on :
the real reason the little critters like to stick themselves to the paint is they are attracted to the color. light colors like yellow and pink,white or similar colors draw bugs like a magnet. bugs go to the brightest part of a house, mainly the windows. i to have had them land in things i was trying to eat or drink,sometimes while driving,which makes for some interesting tastes. in case you think is is adrienne,im jim, her boyfriend. been a bugman for thirty years and am well versed in the type of bugs on the east coast and down south.
Posted by roger bailey (Member # 556) on :
Actually, grab a 3 or 4" piece of masking tape(form into a small circle) touch it to the bug and pull (gently) him or her right off the paint.
Roger
Posted by Dave Sherby (Member # 698) on :
I have a different theory. It's the bugs one chance for immortality, to be put on display, encased permanently on a beautiful sign face. They just don't know that we always remove them before installation.
Actually, in the case of flying insects, they fly and land and fly and land and fly and land. It is inevitable that they will eventually end up on a 4 x 8. There's just too much surface area there for them to miss it in their lifetime.
Posted by J & N Signs (Member # 901) on :
I have the answer. Microsoft must have shares in the paint company.
