| Author | Content |
Jan23
Salem Cnty, NJ
(Zone 7b)
October 10, 2008
08:29 AM Post #5654485
| Great info!!! I am one who is a skeeter magnet. I guess this is a rhetorical question now that I think about it. lol Does this mean that I should screen the opening to my planters that have a water reservoir in the bottom? I can hardly go out on the deck before I am swarmed. |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 10, 2008
09:47 AM Post #5654719
| Wow, I never thought of the planters with reservoirs, maybe that is where MY problem starts. We've had a terrible year. Good article. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
October 10, 2008
10:08 AM Post #5654806
| I'm very sure that ANY standing water will soon become a mosquito nursery! If the area cannot be screened off, you might try using "Dunks" in the water for ornamental plants. They are supposed to be safe for fish and plants, but I don't care to try them in a water system used for edibles. |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
October 10, 2008
10:44 AM Post #5654953
| I use dunks in my water fountain and one drain pipe that doesn't empty properly. A toad took up residence in there, and seems very happy. We had a neighbor with a huge un-used swimming pool - they moved out of state but left the pool full of water. I admit I've pitched a few dunks in there, too. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
October 10, 2008
02:09 PM Post #5655690
| I have a good friend that uses the Dunks and has had no problems with her plants or wildlife. |
Jan23
Salem Cnty, NJ
(Zone 7b)
October 10, 2008
02:58 PM Post #5655844
| Thanks everybody. Sounds like I will be getting dunks...SOON!!! lol |
carrielamont
Milton, MA
(Zone 6a)
October 10, 2008
06:04 PM Post #5656386
| Bev - great article - the embedded video is very impressive!
We, too, have next door neighbors with an in-ground pool which I have never ONCE seen them use. Their fence was falling down, which was illegal... I got them on that when my kids were little enough to wander in there and maybe fall in. So they fixed the fence, but always let stagnant water accumulate in the unused pool. For some reason (their insurance?) they fixed up the pool this fall; still no swimming but maybe they'll keep it filled with clean water?
We can't - or at least I'm not a good enough throw and DH wouldn't - pitch a dunk from here. I hope next year we don't need one! |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
October 10, 2008
11:20 PM Post #5657443
| Carrie, I hate to hear that your neighbor's pool has created such a problem. That's just awful!! I would think if they kept the pool chemicals up to date, and the filter running, they wouldn't have mosquitoes breeding in there. Sounds like they don't even want the pool themselves, and I'm sure they are not enjoying their backyard either because of the skeeters! Can you get the rest of your neighbors to sign a letter of concern, a petition, or the town/county involved about the public health nuisance? Maybe you could print this article and mail it to them, along with a box of Dunks!
Thanks for reading Carrie and I hope you can get the pool issue resolved. Let me know what happens!
Bev |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
June 27, 2009
10:38 PM Post #6747748
| I am using "capsasin cream" (sp?) for pain in my feet and legs, and the skeeters aren't biting my legs at all. I'm going to pat it lightly on my arms next to see if it keeps them away there, too. Wash your hands after you put it on. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
June 27, 2009
11:13 PM Post #6747895
| cathy4,
Thanks for the hot pepper cream tip!! I'm getting eaten up again this year and the herbals that used to work, just don't any more. I'll have to try adding a bit of cayenne or something to my herbal bug spray!
Thanks for reading and again for the info.
Have a great itch-free summer!
Bev |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
June 27, 2009
11:50 PM Post #6747989
| I'd be interested in your recipe, my sister makes up potions, too. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
June 28, 2009
12:35 AM Post #6748095
| I've been using a combo of lavender and sandalwood essential oils mixed in coconut oil for an after bath oil. It's soothing for minor sunburn, very moisturizing, and I noticed the bugs stayed away, too. Lately it doesn't seem to be working though. I'm covered with bugs bites from head to toe!! I have collected several herbal recipes to try out, so hopefully something will help. |
cathy4
St. Louis County, MO
(Zone 5a)
June 28, 2009
12:42 AM Post #6748121
| thanks, i'll check with my little sis to see what she's using. I love her lip balms |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
June 28, 2009
01:08 AM Post #6748185
| I really love MY lip balms, LOL. They're so quick and easy to make! |
holly_grower
Bear, DE
June 29, 2009
08:20 AM Post #6752928
| I'm happy to report the mosquito dunks are working well for me this year in my garden. I don't need them in my fish pond, where the hungry goldfish keep them cleaned out, but I used to have to flush out a decorative fountain and birdbath every few days to get rid of the larvae. No longer! I'm even using one of the dunks in a 10-gallon container I'm using to hatch goldfish fry. It's doing the trick nicely, and apparently not bothering the tiny fish at all. Before long, they'll be big enough to eat any mosquito larvae themselves, but for the first week or so, they're still much too small. |
Sundownr
(Bev) Wytheville, VA
(Zone 6a)
June 29, 2009
09:13 AM Post #6753080
| holly_grower, That's great to know about the Dunks and goldfish babies!! Thanks for letting us know!
PS: I sent you a Dmail for some goldfish info, hope you don't mind. |
Napergal
Naperville, IL
June 29, 2009
12:29 PM Post #6754014
| Boy did this article come in handy. I have a very swampy area in my backyard where water collects from runoff from the two sump pumps (mine and my neighbors) -- there is a slimy pool of water down there right now after all the rain we have had. Everyone is talking about Dunks ...is that the brand name ?? Available at garden supply stores ?? I will have to get some, until we can correct our drainage problem. I swear mosquitoes come in from New Jersey just to find me! If I get bit, I scratch until they bleed as I can't take the itching ...(yes, I use itch sprays and creams, but they don't stop the itch very long. My solution ?? Every morning before I go out of the house, now, I use those mosquito repellant wipes and swish one over my legs, arms and back of neck. That way, I don't have to use the sprays that get all over your clothes as well, and always feel so greasy !!
Has anyone tried the Bounce fabric softener sheet idea that is going around? You are supposed to put one in your back pocket (or somewhere on your bod!) and it is supposed to keep them away. I wonder if it is only the Bounce brand that is supposed to work ...or would any fabric softener sheet do as well? I am going to try it and see. Has anyone tried those new clip on bug repellers?? |
Jan23
Salem Cnty, NJ
(Zone 7b)
June 29, 2009
01:24 PM Post #6754234
| I think I got MosquitoDunks at Walmart. I just looked on the package and that is the name on it. So far, this year, it seems to be working pretty well in the containers on the deck. I even put one in the birdbath up there. Now, that's not to say we don't have those skeeters, we do, and they seem to find me quickly. But so far, at least, I can walk out on the deck for more than a few minutes and they don't swarm me. I got one of the clip-on repellers, but if you are moving around ( as in the garden) it doesn't help that much, From what I've read on the package, you kinda need to be stationary.
I always forget about dryer sheets. |
