Salalah – Dhofar’s khareef season continues to attract thousands of visitors seeking misty hills, cool weather and green landscapes. But alongside the natural beauty, the season’s high humidity and mild temperatures lead to an increase in mosquitoes, flies and other insects – an irritation for both tourists and residents.

For many, the bites are more than a passing irritation. At Wadi Darbat, Priya Menon, a visitor from Muscat, said, “I came here for the mist and mountains, but by the end of the first evening, my legs were covered in bites. I wish I had packed stronger repellents. The scenery is worth it, but the itch is real!”

Many visitors are turning to insect repellents and ointments sold at khareef markets, priced between RO1.5 and RO5. “We stock different brands, from herbal balms to mild chemical repellents,” said local vendor Ahmed al Abri. “Tourists buy these as mosquitos thrive in this weather. Most people are fine, but sometimes the insects are too aggressive.”

Salalah Municipality has been working on controlling infestation in public spaces. One visible measure is installation of Catchmaster Fly Traps at key locations. These disposable bags contain a dry powder, which when mixed with water, emits a strong odour mimicking decomposing organic matter. Insects enter the trap through a funnel and are unable to escape.

“These traps are a simple but effective way to reduce flies, especially at busy picnic spots and food display areas,” said a municipality official.

The traps are installed after identifying high infestation areas, such as open-air dining spaces, livestock pens and waste disposal sites. These are hung 1.5m to 2m above the ground and spaced 10m to 15m apart away from popular photo spots. Most are installed before the peak tourist season and replaced every two to four weeks.

Some visitors have already noticed an improvement. “When I came last year, the flies were everywhere,” said Mohammed Fahad from Saudi Arabia. “I noticed the bags hanging from trees this year, and honestly, there are fewer flies at picnic spots. It has made eating outdoors much more pleasant.”

(Pictures by VK Shafeer)