Woman Launches Unusual Business Selling Mosquito Keychains, Earning Thousands—Foreigners Love Them Despite Complex Production Process
A Thai entrepreneur has turned dead mosquitoes into a thriving business, creating glow-in-the-dark keychains that foreign tourists buy as souvenirs. The intricate multi-day production process and strict sourcing requirements have made the q
Who would have thought that selling mosquitoes could generate thousands of baht? A TikTok user named Lee (@leesaesilp) has turned this bizarre idea into a legitimate business, creating glow-in-the-dark keychains from actual mosquito specimens and even setting up booth sales. Foreign customers are so enthusiastic about these "mosquitoes from Thailand" that they buy them as souvenirs for friends back home.
Lee explains how the business started: "I got thousands of baht just from swatting mosquitoes every day. I liked collecting dead mosquitoes as a hobby, and I thought it would be fun to turn them into keychains with glow-in-the-dark effects. When live mosquitoes see them, they panic and fly away—maybe it even reduces the risk of getting bitten!" The business has been so successful that Lee invested in mosquito traps, though they're inconsistent and consume a lot of electricity.
However, the production process is far from simple. Each keychain goes through multiple stages spanning several days: catching mosquitoes, waiting for them to dry, preserving them, mounting them in plastic frames, and more drying. The most critical step is the framing and drying process—if the specimens aren't completely dry, they can break or deteriorate, forcing Lee to constantly worry about quality.
Lee also buys mosquito specimens from collectors, with specific requirements: specimens must come from existing household traps in large quantities (not bred commercially for sale). Compensation starts at 700-900+ baht, with a 50-baht shipping fee and 500-baht processing fee. Mosquitoes are purchased at 2 baht each for batches of 100-200 specimens, though damaged ones may fetch only 1 baht or nothing at all.
Packaging is critical and requires careful handling—avoiding ants, wearing masks during preparation, and using only flat paper envelopes. The finished keychains retail for 149 baht plus 30 baht shipping, with a production time of 7-14 days per order.
Despite the challenges, Lee remains enthusiastic: "Do whatever you want—life is short. Some might think this is pointless, and maybe it is, but who cares?"
