Shan Ding Lu

There is a real fear of mosquitoes here as almost everywhere in the world. And for good reason too, while Taiwan has been malaria free since the 60’s there is an ongoing problem with Dengue fever here in Southern Taiwan. My father-in-law is forever vigilant about having doors closed, window screens tight and the 5000 volt blue light zapper always on.

I often wondered why there were few mosquitoes around our house or even inside our house while if you walk into the bamboo hills not more than 100 yards across the field you are likely to be sucked dry.

And yesterday I discover why; The Dengue Fever Prevention and Control program.

A couple of the Da Liao county workers wandered around the streets and puffed a cloud of chemical down every hole they could find.

An immediate side-effect was the death of all the cockroaches they live in the gutters and around ground level. I knew there were a lot but after sweeping 30 odd up from our tiny ground floor space I guess I now know there were a lot more.

It also hit the spiders and other creepy crawlies they inhabit the ground space. But not those pesky ants that clean my coffee cup if left stationary for 10 minutes.

Tags: Shan Ding Lu //