Outdoor surveillance cameras aren't just exposed to the weather. Insects can often cause far more serious damage. In this article, we'll go over 7 ways to protect your video surveillance system from insects.

How Do Insects Harm a Video Surveillance System?

Infrared illumination attracts gnats, mosquitoes, moths, and butterflies, which cover and dirty the lens. As a result, right at the critical moment the surveillance was set up for, the image can end up blurry. Insects can also get inside the camera itself, which can damage the electronics.

So where do the spiderwebs come from? Spiders are drawn in by the small insects gathering around the illumination — the insects become their food. As a result, spiders start spinning webs around the equipment.

The strands reduce the camera's visibility and can block entire objects from view. And if the camera responds to motion, you'll end up dealing with constant false alarms from the sensors.

TOP 7 Ways to Protect Your Video Equipment

There are hundreds of methods for protecting against insects, but we'll cover the simplest and most effective ones.

Special Lubricant

You'll need silicone, Teflon spray, or petroleum jelly. Apply the lubricant to the camera housing, after first covering the lens with paper or a tissue to keep it clean.

These substances make the camera's surface too slippery for insects to land on for long. This, in turn, keeps spiders from building webs near the equipment.

Scented Wipes

Perfumed wipes give off a scent that's too strong for insects. Attach the wipe directly to the camera itself, not just somewhere nearby.

Flea Collar

A flea collar for dogs or cats can be found at any pet store. It's designed to repel parasites, including insects and spiders. The collar can be adjusted to size and attached to the camera. It's a simple, convenient method. Just be sure to keep an eye on the collar's expiration date.

Insect Repellent Spray

The spray's strong smell keeps flying insects away. Any product you can buy at a pharmacy will work. The only downside to this method is that the spray evaporates quickly, so you'll need to reapply it to the camera every 1–3 days.

Turning Off the Illumination

Since it's specifically the infrared illumination that attracts insects, it makes sense to simply turn it off. This method only works for cameras that can maintain image quality using ambient light alone.

Manual Cleaning

You can skip special products altogether. It's enough to clean the lens and camera housing yourself once a week to remove dirt and insects. It's important to use a soft brush that won't scratch the optics.

Fan

Small, inexpensive desktop fans or computer fans can blow pests off the housing and keep spiders away too. Mount the fan so that it blows directly onto the camera.

Additional Information

If your cameras are dealing with more than just bugs, check out our other articles:

  • •         7 Ways to Get Rid of Condensation on a Surveillance Camera
  • •         How to Ruin a Video Surveillance System During Installation? 6 Common Mistakes
  • •         5 Proven Ways to Avoid Interference in a Video Surveillance System
  • •         Maintaining Video Surveillance Systems. 7 Rules for Saving Money

All of these tips work for both wired and wireless models. For advice on which type is best for you, see our article “Can Surveillance Cameras Run Without Electricity? TOP 3 Solutions.”

Conclusion

When you get a surveillance system, you need to be ready to maintain it. But to minimize the time this takes, consider a cloud monitoring system. Faceter, for example, doesn't require complicated installation or periodic system configuration, and all updates are downloaded automatically.

You can connect any number of cameras to your surveillance setup at any time, with no hassle. The only limits are set by the plan you choose and any additional features.