You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
Login
If you don't have an account yet, visit the registration page to sign up.
Understanding more about mosquitoes now may help prevent their reproduction, repel their bites, and eliminate many of the bloodsucking population in your yard and garden next year.
Editor's Note: This article originally ran October 10, 2008. This week (June 21-27, 2009) is the 13th annual "National Mosqito Control Awareness Week."
Drought Mitigation Plan
After a few consecutive summer droughts, I wanted to remedy the lack of water for my yard and garden, and save money on our county water bill. We built two rain water collection and storage barrel systems, and various small pond and fountain projects. We had a potential water capacity of nearly 600 gallons. I was so intent on collecting every raindrop possible, that I positioned empty buckets under each rain barrel overflow. I planned to use the bucket water first, probably in a day's time, before tapping into the precious water collection systems.
I had received some azolla (Azolla caroliniana), also known as Carolina Mosquito Fern (accompanied by duckweed), a floating water plant to cover the surface of the little ponds to prevent mosquito larvae growth, and to use as liquid fertilizer from the spent plants. All I needed was one good rain!
The rains finally came and stayed a few days. Every barrel and bucket was full to overflowing. The yard and garden were saturated, the weather was cool and overcast, and no watering was needed for a week or more. Most of the azolla died. I soon discovered mosquito larvae in everything, including the inside of the rain barrel systems, because we had forgotten to place screens in the overflows as planned! Thus started our summer-long battle with the menacing bloodsucking skeeters.
Mosquito Mitigation
We quickly corrected our overflow screen blunder, and sealed the entire water system to prevent mosquitoes from entering, or leaving. What was left of the azolla could not grow quickly enough to cover the ponds at this point. I needed fish in the small ponds to eat the mosquito larvae before the adults emerged from the water! Our local pet store took two weeks to furnish healthy goldfish (they had been sick). By the time the fish were in place, it was too late. We had no idea the life cycle of a mosquito was so fast!
We added aeration stones in the ponds for the goldfish, and learned the turbulence created by the bubbles would have been all that was needed to prevent mosquito egg deposits, and to kill existing larvae. We planted lemon balm, catnip, and anise hyssop around our patio to discourage aerial attacks during cookouts. We inverted any potential water-holding yard items, like the wheelbarrow, pots, and the overflow buckets. We placed clay pot houses in shady nooks, and feeders of seed to encourage toad and bird participation in our mosquito mitigation effort.
We are still getting eaten alive by mosquitoes during the early morning and evening hours, but with the cooler fall weather, we thought our mosquito mess would soon be over. After searching the Internet to prepare for next year, I learned that mosquitoes hibernate, or have a built-in antifreeze system, and the eggs can survive up to five years before hatching. Our bug battle was not over. They would be waiting for us in just a few months, starved for blood!
With mosquitoes spreading viruses and diseases like West Nile, yellow fever, dengue, malaria, encephalitis, and heart worm and equine encephalitis (in our pets), communities have spent much money on research to devise methods to mitigate mosquito populations in their towns. The more we know, the better we can protect ourselves, and reduce the numbers of bloodsuckers in future growing seasons!
Mosquito FAQ
Species:
Mosquito means "little fly" in Spanish; they are in the Culicidae family of insects; 2,700 different species known, with 50 not responding to insecticides; the species has survived since the Jurrasic Period.[1]
Aedes aegypti biting human.jpg. Public Domain Mosquito_larva.jpg. Public Domain
Habitat:
They need still waters for three, out of the four, stages of their life cycle.
Food:
They need nectar from flowers to live, only the females need protein (blood meal) to form eggs. Larvae eat microorganisims in the water.
What attracts them:
From 100 feet away, mosquitoes can sense movement; warmth, they use infrared; and can sense chemicals from sweat, and the carbon dioxide from our breath. They are attracted to dark colors, fair-haired/skinned people (prefer ovulating women), and they are more active during a full moon.[2]
Traits:
Females are larger than males, make the high-pitched buzzing noise to attract males, and are the ones that bite to suck blood. They can travel 40 miles to feed, at speeds of 1-1/2 mph, and up to 40 feet in the air.[2] They are active until first frost in cooler climate zones.
Life cycle:
Female lay eggs in stagnant quiet (still) water–Larvae hatch from the eggs (wigglers)–Develop into pupa (tumblers)–Adult mosquitoes emerge from the pupa.
Males live only a few days after mating. Females can live a few weeks or through the winter by hibernating in moist leaves and in the ground (their bodies carry a substance like antifreeze).
The complete life cycle of a mosquito, from egg to adult, can be as little as two weeks![3]
National Geographic: The Mosquito (www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjV0JpIAH78)
Next Year
I learned the hard way how quickly a mosquito infestation can start, and that the methods to mitigate the damage may take more than a season to correct. If you are doing all that you can do to keep mosquitoes at bay on your property, but still have a problem, you might enlist the help of neighbors to see if more can be done to control their population and reproduction in your neighborhood.
Please refer to the sidebar for additional information on plants, predators, and methods to deter the menacing mosquitoes in your yard, and other Dave's Garden articles in the green box below.
Endnotes: [1] "Mosquito Bytes". Whyfiles.org. 22 Aug 2002. http://whyfiles.org/016skeeter/. 06 Oct 2008. [2] HubPages: Mosquito FAQ. http://hubpages.com/hub/Mosquito-Facts. 06 Oct 2008. [3] Rutgers University. New Jersey Mosquito Control Association, Inc (NJMCA). http://www-rci.rutgers.edu/~insects/mosfaq.htm. 06 Oct 2008. [4] "Bats Eat Mosquitoes . . .". Hendry Co Horticultural News. University of Florida, Cooperative Ext. Serv. http://hendry.ifas.ufl.edu/HCHortNews_Bats.htm. 06 Oct 2008. [5] "Mosquito Hawks". Amosquito.com. http://www.a-mosquito.com/mosquito-hawk.php. 08 Oct 2008. [6] Anne Bond. "Safe Mosquito Control". 14 May 1999. Care2.com. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/safe-mosquito-control.html. 08 Oct 2008. [7] Genetics and Molecular Biology. 2003. SciELO Brasil. http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1415-47572003000400004&lng=pt&nrm=iso. 08 Oct 2008.
MOSQUITO CONTROL TECHNIQUES
Prevention:
Improve drainage in areas harboring pools of water.
Remove debris in gutters for proper drainage.
Invert glazed, or plastic pots, and other containers.
Use screens at entrance and exits of rain barrels.
Shred fallen leaves so they can't hold water.
Mosquito Predators:
Toads eat nearly 100 skeeters per night.
Fish that eat mosquito larvae.
Bats eat 600 skeeters & gnats per hour.[4]
Dragonflies and damselflies enjoy buzzing skeeter buffets.[5]
Provide shallow draining water sources for beneficial insects, and birds, that eat mosquitoes. Replenish with fresh water as needed.
On Water Sources:
Create turbulence using:
Sprayers
Aerators
Drippers
Agitators
Floating plants help cover surface area, like azolla.
Surface oils prevent larvae from breathing properly.
Biological controls are being experimented with.[1]
The caffeine in coffee grounds has had encouraging testing results.[7]
In the Air:
Create turbulence with fans, both indoors and out.
Mosquito traps that emit heat, light, & CO2.
Citronella emitting candles, incense, and torches can help.
Bug zappers kill more beneficial insects than mosquitoes.[2]
I was a serious organic gardener and composter 30 years ago, then my life took me in a new direction with kids and career. I am just now returning to gardening and learning new techniques, and loving every minute of it. I hope to share my experiences with you from my shady yard.
Posted by CompostR (from south central, PA) on July 01, 2009 at 03:09 PM:
We open the ground floor of our barn to Barn Swallows every summer. They eat insects (flocks will follow the mower to get flushed-out insects - very cute!). We have several acres and mosquito bites are almost non-existant (maybe one per year). Yet, authorities will spray for mosquitos in surrounding areas where there are no caves or structures in which the birds can nest. Crazy. They like a cave-like situation with vertical nest sites under a ledge. They need mud to build their nests. They are fun to watch. (Barn Swallows are kind of shiny blue underneath; Chimney Swifts are smaller and darker).
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on July 01, 2009 at 08:46 PM:
CompostR, Thanks for the great info on Barn Swallows, I did not know all that about them. They're kind of like a daytime bat!
Thanks for reading and commenting,
Bev
...
Subject: mosquitoes...the only good one is ...
Posted by spiersy (from Sarnia, prov. of Ont, Canada) on June 29, 2009 at 10:36 PM:
...the one that never existed.
Sorry folks, everything you said about mosquitoes is absolutely true. Some of the stuff about gambusia affinis and lebesti reticulata (guppies) is even niffty, true, and a great source of food for the fish in your tanks but....
I want you to fill an ordinary pail, half full of water. Add a wilty piece of lettuce leaf and put this in a cool shady spot in your yard.. Do this, say, on a Saturday.
Now on the next Saturday, I want you to kick it over and do it all over again, and every Saturday after that. You will be attracting every mosquito within a 100 metre radius. They will seek out your bucket, lay their eggs, and cease to exist. Why?
During a typical summer, it takes eight days to go from an egg, to a flying adult. Right, you have destroyed their life cycle. After three weeks, the population is virtually non-existent. By putting the wilty lettuce in the water you have provided a medium second to none for mozzies to lay their eggs in. Bacteria, the wigglers' primary food source, will flourish. The mozzies will select your bucket over anything else, except perhaps the swamp in your back yard.
To test this theory, I took an old tire filled with stagnant water and put it beside the bucket. Not one egg raft was in the tire. The bucket was loaded.
Now, you need to convince your neighbours to do this, to spread out and extend the range of the mozzie-free zone.
If your area gets snow, start this a month or so after the melt. In Canada, you can actually find active wigglers in the water, under the rotten ice. Probably were you live as well. Cheers.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 10:50 PM:
spiersy, Wow, that's actually a really cool idea! I have plenty of wilted lettuce, too!
Thanks for reading and commenting,
Bev
...
Posted by ptooming (from Titusville, FL) on July 01, 2009 at 09:07 PM:
Didn't I read that the eggs can stay dormant for 5 years (laying in wait)? I don't know under what conditions other than freeze that the eggs can with stand. Also it takes about a week for them to go threw all 4 stages?
I would hate to think I was collecting all these eggs that are well on there way or are at the Pupa stage and just dump them on the ground to fly away in a few hours. Do you treat the area you dumped the water with anything to prevent the emerging pupa from becoming flying adults? I live in Florida between the mangrove marshes and I am butt up to a well wooded area when the clock stikes we make a mad dash for the house before the black mass emerges. Don't get me wrong on an over cast day we are chased at high noon by them. 9 months out of the year we deal with the dreaded blood sucker if it's not them it deer flies and horse flies.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on July 01, 2009 at 11:08 PM:
ptooming, I see your point about dumping the mosquito mess in the grass, but I would assume the heat of the day on concrete or asphalt paving would fry skeeter eggs, larvae, or pupa, especially down in your region. As spiersy indicates, they would survive a freezing!
...
Subject: Listerine in a spray bottle.
Posted by proudnole (from Ridgeland, MS) on June 29, 2009 at 02:31 PM:
I received an email that said original formula Listerine (the yellow stuff) in a spray bottle would repel mosquitoes. I've been using for a few weeks and, though my time sample is too insufficient to proclaim unmitigated success, it's worked well so far. Broadcast spraying in an outdoor area seems to cause the pests to vacate the premises.
Every time I venture out now in early morning or in the evening, I carry a spray bottle with me. My kids say it reminds them of the omnipresent Windex used by the bride's family in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Consequently, it's good for a measure of comic, as well as insect, relief.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 10:55 PM:
proudnole, I heard about Listerine as a repellent from someone recently and completely forgot about it (happens a lot these days). Thanks for the reminder to give it a try!
Bev
...
Subject: Mosquito hidey-holes and enemies
Posted by eskarp (from Albuquerque, NM) on June 29, 2009 at 01:33 PM:
Always check any tires that you might have stacked outside. The insides hold quite enough water for mosquitoes. Ditto bottles headed for the recycle.
When I lived in California, my local county vector control (that's what they call the department that deals with mice, rats, mosquitoes, fleas, and other things that go bump in the night) would supply pond owners with mosquito fish. These were hardy little fish that could overwinter in a backyard pond and ate tons of larvae. They were free and far more efficient than goldfish though not particularly pretty. They'd make a good addition to rain barrels providing that you always have at least some water in the barrels.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 11:04 PM:
eskarp, Any tires we use in the yard we drill holes in them to keep the water drained. We have a big problem this year with a neighbor's discarded tires serving as a skeeter nursery!
We place screens over the rain barrel overflow vents and the holes for the downspouts. We haven't found any mosquitoes or larvae in the barrels yet this year.
Thanks for reading and the additional info on the mosquito fish!
Bev
...
Subject: Excellent article
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on June 29, 2009 at 10:39 AM:
I'm so glad you ran this article again. I didn't even recognize it until I saw our posts from last year. I do want to add chickens to the list. Mosquitos can breed in curled up leaves in your yard. Chickens disturb anything and everything. Nothing can live in my yard.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 10:46 PM:
Do the chickens eat the mosquito larvae?
...
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on June 30, 2009 at 04:12 PM:
I have a couple of pans of water outback for various critters and I dump them every 3rd day. If you look at the pan of water on the 4th day you can see the larva swimming. When I dump the water it's a race between the ants and the chickens. But I haven't seen the chickens dunk for larva. I've seen them snap at things in the air that's a possible skeeter.
I saw a baby bunny the other day. Thought it was a rat but it had no tail and it was fat and puggy. Things like that just make life worth living.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 30, 2009 at 10:49 PM:
Thanks for the info! I totally agree with your life worth living perspective, lol!
...
Subject: Mosquito Control
Posted by docturf (from Conway, SC) on June 29, 2009 at 08:39 AM:
Your information was very good and to the point. However, why not mention a little-known method of controlling the larvae by means of a common household product -- olive oil or vegetable oil? This method only works in a body of still water, such as a bucket, a barrel or any other small water-holding item. Simply add a small amount of oil to the surface of the water. This will rapidly spread over the entire surface, thereby creating a thin layer of oil which the breathing tube of the larvae cannot penetrate. This, in turn, causes suffocation of the larvae. and no harm results from using the water as intended. Try this technique and let me know of your success (or failure, as the case may be). Docturf
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 09:04 AM:
docturf,
Thank you for the reminder, I had forgotten about oil! My mom used it as a remedy once in the backyard puddles when I was a little girl.
Thanks so much for reading and leaving the great tip,
Bev
...
Subject: Do Co2 traps really work?
Posted by binibusybee (from Osgoode, Canada) on June 10, 2009 at 11:02 AM:
I enjoyed your well informed and well planned article. Thanks!
We are going into our 4th summer on this continent and are facing another round in the battle with the bugs!
Having moved here from southern Africa, we were horrified to see so many mosquitoes which mean a good chance to catch Malaria where we came from! If Africa had as many mozzies it would probably be unpopulated!
Living near swampy Cedar forest, our garden is inundated with mozzies , mainly at dusk and dawn but at times all day long. Being a dedicated gardener I have learned to do my important jobs for the season before mid-June as it gets plainly impossible lateron. So while my garden it looking its most lovely, I have to be content with quick forreys to the veg garden and hurried visits to my flower beds - covered in 40% DEET.
This year I started researching Co2 traps, and the idea does sound very good. In order to test the theory I made a rudimentary Co2 'dispenser' in the form of a 2l cool drink bottle with some sugar water and yeast. On the first evening , which happened to be a full-moon night too it was surrounded in a cloud of bugs! But how to kill them once they are there? The bubbling brew seems to have lost its attraction by now, by the way.
We love being out of doors, so is it a worth while investment? These units cost up to $500 after all.
I would love to hear your stories!
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 10, 2009 at 04:57 PM:
binibusybee,
Hello, and thanks for reading the article. I know the "Dunks" does kill the larvae in water, as I've had to resort to that already this year in my own yard. We have just recently discovered the local source of our skeeter problems (and it wasn't my doing this time, lol) and really need to have something done, too.
I have no experience with the C02 traps either, but like you, I'm very tempted by them. Thanks for sharing the results of your own experiments. You may have a good idea there if, as you say, we could find something to kill the adults before they can bite us.
I would be very interested in hearing any experiences others may have had with the C02 traps myself!
Thanks for your comments and have a happy summer growing season,
Bev
...
Posted by babesy (from Arlington, TX) on June 29, 2009 at 02:47 PM:
We have invested in a Mosquito trap this summer. We live in Arlington (the Interlochen area, if you know Arlington) and have a "creek" on our property - a creek which the county has apparently dammed up so that it only flows when it rains. Otherwise, it is a mosquito pit.
We were getting eaten alive.
The population seems to have gone down in about 9 days. That is, I can go out there and not be covered by black mosquitoes in the first 5 minutes. I have still been bitten, but the amount of those nasty things seems to be lessening.
The upkeep/maintenance/supplies on this thing aren't cheap, either. You have to get "bait" (pheromones to draw the females, the only biters) and it is $16 per package of 2. A bait lasts (we're told) approximately 3 weeks, the same length that the Propane Tank you need to invest in and runs 24 hours/7days per week will last.
So, add it up: $16 for 2 baits, which will last 6 weeks. Then the $50 for the tank, and refilling it each 3 week period at a cost of about $18.
It's pricey. I am hopeful that it works, otherwise we're going to have to return it. It is truly a big investment.
Caroline
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 11:24 PM:
Caroline, Thanks for letting us know about the cost to operate one of the mosquito traps. I had no idea they were that expensive. And I didn't know there was bait involved. What kills them after they arrive at the bait? Flames from the propane? That's a shame to have that kind of expense just to enjoy your yard.
Thanks again for your input,
Bev
...
Posted by babesy (from Arlington, TX) on June 30, 2009 at 12:01 AM:
Nope, they get drawn to the machine by the CO2 mixing with the pheromone bait (I guess it creates some warmth, similar to your body heat) and then get sucked in by a 'vacuum' principle into a net. They eventually dehydrate and die.
Caroline
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 30, 2009 at 12:25 AM:
So you have to clean the trap fairly often, I imagine?!
...
Subject: Try mosquitofish
Posted by stapeliad (from Lodi, CA) on November 05, 2008 at 12:31 PM:
Gambusia affinis is commonly known as the mosquitofish and is stocked into waters around the world as a bio control of mosquito larvae.
If you fill a large trash can with water, and add mosquitofish, you will reduce the population of adult mosquitoes, since the larvae all get eaten from those mosquitoes that breed in your trash can.
I have used this method in both central Florida and California's Central Valley. You don't even have to feed the fish, just add a little water periodically to replace that lost by evaporation. If you are in an area with chlorine or chloramine in your tap water, you should use rainwater, or treat the water sodium thiosulphate (found in pet stores for aquariums), or let the water stand for several days before adding fish.
You can generally find mosquitofish in nearby ponds, lakes, rivers, and drainage ditches.
They are easy to capture with a larger size aquarium net.
If you use this mosquito control technique, please take appropriate steps to ensure that your mosquitofish are not released into other waters.
Good luck.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on November 05, 2008 at 02:01 PM:
stapeliad, Thanks for the information!
Bev
...
Posted by roybird (from Santa Fe, NM) on June 27, 2009 at 11:50 PM:
I have recently introduced Gambusia fish to my small pond/fountain. We don't have mosquito larva yet so I'm feeding them a little goldfish food. I hesitate to put them in a rain barrel, though I've heard that you can. They are fun to watch but need to come indoors to an aquarium in the winter where I live. Good article.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 28, 2009 at 12:41 AM:
I wintered my little goldfish in an aquarium and they grew! I'm STILL in the process of installing a small (100 gallon) prefab pond for them. They did a great job of keeping the mosquitoes at bay last year.
...
Posted by cmsjjdr (from Panama City, FL) on June 29, 2009 at 07:14 AM:
Just a little hint on the goldfish. They are cold water fish and so unless your pond freezes solid in the winter they can stay outside all winter. They can do fine even if the surface freezes over as long as they have food and oxygen in the water.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 07:56 AM:
cmsjjdr: Last year I had 30-gal half barrel sitting on the ground and was afraid the goldfish would not make it through the winter in it, so I brought them inside. I'm hoping this larger 100-gal, in-ground, pond form will allow them to live outdoors through the winter.
...
Subject: Nice article
Posted by palmbob (from Tarzana, CA) on October 17, 2008 at 12:32 AM:
this article is excellently organized, illustrated and written. Easy to read and get information from. Wish I could use the editor tools that well. Good job!!
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 17, 2008 at 12:50 AM:
Well thank you very much palmbob. I appreciate the nice comments, especially from another DG writer.
Bev
...
Subject: I build a pond for mosquitoes . . .
Posted by Johntron (from Dallas, TX) on October 14, 2008 at 12:22 AM:
One evening, my roommate and I were sitting on the front porch getting eaten up by mosquitoes, being a typical Texas summer. We decided to find some way to get rid of them. Being very "natural" people, we decided to find a natural predator. After doing some research we found that brown bats eat around 600 mosquitoes an hour, and dragonflies eat around 600 mosquitoes a day. We liked the idea of having dragonflies in the back yard more than brown bats (not that we have anything against brown bats), so we went around back and started digging.
Here's what we ended up with: http://bugguide.net/node/view/222462. It's a dragonfly lair -- basically a pond with plenty of places for adult and young dragonflies to perch, as well as grasses (or irises in our case) for the young ones to emerge from the water. The dragonfly in that photo is called a Neon Skimmer, and it just showed up one day, followed shortly by another male (which he had a little brawl with), and a female. I guess she got knocked up by one of the guys, because one evening I actually saw her laying eggs. She looked pretty similar to her male counterparts, but not as bright.
Larvae, or nymphs, take forever to develop into adult dragonflies, apparently (around 3 years I think), so next spring I think I'm going to try to find someone to buy some Neon Skimmer larvae from and hope there are a few near maturity. Recently, I've added a few more grasses and some more bushy plants for dragonflies to perch on. We also have a few more lilies, one of which bloomed recently. The pond really offers a way to slow down and enjoy the world (without mosquitoes).
One word of warning to people who are thinking of doing the same thing: do your homework. A pond is a very complex ecosystem, and you can't just go building one willy nilly like we did. After digging the pond and before putting water or plants in it, we spend a good solid day researching. If you do anything, be sure you get the pump and filter right, otherwise your dragonfly magnet will turn into a mosquito magnet.
This message was edited Oct 13, 2008 10:27 PM
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 14, 2008 at 07:09 AM:
Johntron, WOW, both the pond and the Neon Skimmer are beautiful!! Great job guys! How are you controlling the mosquito larvae in the pond until you get dragonfly nymphs? I would be very interested in knowing how many different dragonflies you attract, and how the mosquito population is affected by your pond/skeeter trap.
I bookmarked the web site, it looks like a good reference.
Thanks for reading and sharing your experience,
Bev
...
Subject: Dunks for mosquitoes
Posted by Myrtlejane (from Charlottesville, VA) on October 13, 2008 at 01:03 PM:
Thanks for the great article and follow-up comments.! My husband is also a magnet for mosquitoes and they don't seem to bother me as much.
In our former location, we had a small pond with a fish and a waterfall and could enjoy it without fear of mosquitoes growing there. In that neighborhood there were many small children whose toys were left out in the weather endlessly. You can bet they spawned more than their share of mosquitoes.
In our present location we keep a 12" saucer of water on the patio for birds, squirrels, and even dragonflies! Are the dunks safe for these creatures? I change the water daily, but some days we are out of town and when we return, the water is wriggling with larvae.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 13, 2008 at 01:26 PM:
Myrtlejane, it is my understanding now that the Dunks are organic and safe for plants and critters. They kill the mosquito larvae (as well as gnats and flies) with a bacteria, Bti, or Bacillus thuringienis israelensis, which destroys the larvae from the inside once ingested (larvae feed on microorganisms). Even other insects are not harmed. I'm going to try them if the skeeters try to terrorize us again next year.
Thanks for reading,
Bev
...
Subject: Mosquito control alternatives
Posted by mcate (from Port Neches, TX) on October 13, 2008 at 07:13 AM:
We have a large, formal lily pond about 20 feet from our back door and live within 10 miles of the Texas Gulf Coast. Mosquitos are a year-round problem that gets extreme after rainy episodes and hurricanes. Since installing the pond our mosquito count has DECREASED substantially. Fact is, our pond attracts frogs and birds. Both help us in controlling adult mosquitos that are also attracted to the pond. (It does take a season to become accustomed to the springtime chatter of frogs and the frequent surprises as you cross paths with numerous little hopping mosquito vacuums) To control larvae, we use mosquito dunks because our pond must remain fish free to protect the water lilies from nibbling fish. We are careful to eliminate all other containers of standing water around our property. One major change is in the way we select pots for plants. Small pots with water catchers are exclusively used inside where mosquitos do not have easy access. To eliminate the need for water reservoirs that can harbor mosquitos outside, we simply use larger pots that don't need reservoirs.
I try to avoid using chemical sprays as much as possible because they do affect beneficial insects including bees which are a vital part of any garden. We stopped using zappers after realizing that mosquitos account for only 4 to 10 percent of the insects you'll find in the dead cup. My observation is the pond is actually a better trap and far more naturally selective in its ability to control pests. Besides, frogs actually sing and zappers just zap in the middle of the night. The choice is your preference.
We prefer to use picaridin products over deet as a topical repellant. To get double duty from our repellant, we step immediately outside an exit so any of the chemical that drifts will help mask that spot as a prime entry point to our home. When we do have to use a chemical fogger in the yard, I concentrate on areas that are known hiding places such as our banana grove along the perimeter and quiet corners or under large shrubs. The best and safest time to fog seems to be first light when the air is still. Generally, bees begin their work shortly after sunrise. By then, any mist I have sprayed has done it's work on the far side of the yard and has settled. I am careful not to spray around blooming plants as a courtesy to bees who may later take the poison to the hive along with pollen. We do not fog around our vegetable garden or when drift may carry it there.
I have tried garlic compounds sprayed around the yard but am unable to say with any certainty that they work as well as advertised propaganda. Suffice to say humans may be easier to convince than mosquitos. Since mosquitos respond to specific olfactory stimuli including carbon dioxide and octenol from our breath as well as lactic acid from our skin, I can find no scientific basis proving that substances such as garlic are effective for anything more than temporary confusion.
There are several plants that are touted as having mosquito repellant properties. Because there is little scientific support for most of the claims, we choose plants that can be purchased or sown at a reasonable cost and that we feel are compatible with the beauty and enjoyment of our gardening. A plant that grows to a ghastly size, is itchy or emits a stench I can't enjoy has no place in my garden. Marigolds are among our favorites to plant among vegetables. I can't tell you if they actually discourage "bad" bugs but I think if I were a bug, I'd prefer to go elsewhere. So much for science.
Citronella grass is the source for citronella oil but planting the grass does not have the same effect on mosquitos as burning it. Many people can't stand the smell and would prefer the mosquitos. Rosemary is also touted as a repellant but although the plant does not attract mosquitos, it likely will not keep them off you unless you rub yourself down with the oil. While rosemary is generally thought to have many beneficial uses, it can result in dermatitis on those who are mildly allergic.
Mosquito plants are sold commercially as a repellant for a high price but most Entomologists would more likely recommend catnip. Studies show that catnip is 10 times as effective in repelling mosquitos as deet. Catnip also works for roaches and apparently termites too! Who knew?
Because mosquitos are constantly being stirred and carried by the wind, new visitors are always going to loiter near any entrance where the smell of a potential meal outweighs any other inconvenience. Mosquitos are homeless drifters with a desperately short lifespan of only a few weeks during which they are programmed to fight for survival and produce offspring.
That said, I always welcome new information and ideas for reducing mosquito impact on human survival.
...
Posted by mcate (from Port Neches, TX) on October 13, 2008 at 07:41 AM:
To clarify.... the use of dunks controls mosquito larvae specifically. Dunks contain natural Bacillus Thuringeniensis Iraeliensis or B.t.i. in a sustained release larvaecide. They are safe to use in pet watering bowls, horse troughs, fish ponds and aquatic gardens.
Around water lilies, dunks are recommended instead of fish for controlling mosquitos. Dunks do not control fish. Fish are great consumers of mosquito adults, eggs and larvae but they tend to wallow out the soil from potted water lilies and chew away roots. Those who want more showy lily blossoms should keep fish in a fish pond and control mosquito larvae in lily ponds with dunks.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 13, 2008 at 08:56 AM:
mcate, Thank you so much for posting your very knowledgeable experience. I believe I have learned as much from reader comments as I did from researching for our backyard mosquito mitigation plan (and the article).
You have helped make my case for a ground level pond. I did not benefit as much from the natural wildlife by using a raised container. Several toads showed up to bury in the loose mulch and absorb spilled water around the water storage, and I saw a dragonfly or two, but visits from the more water-dependent critters was impossible without direct access to our little pond. I am hoping that another season with a yard of water features will attract and balance the wildlife ecology here.
The mosquito repellent plants don't seem to work very well unless they are crumpled, rubbed on the skin, or left on the ground, to emit their repellent odors which only lasts for an hour or so. So far, catnip, lemon balm, and marigold are promising plants for the species of mosquitoes in our area.
I resisted using Dunks this year until I knew more about it. I may resort to using them next year if the skeeter population gets out of control again.
Thanks again for reading, and your valuable input!
Bev
...
Posted by mcate (from Port Neches, TX) on October 13, 2008 at 10:21 AM:
Bev,
I didn't mention dragon flies! Glad you did. With the pond, one of the most enjoyable features are the beautiful multicolored dragonflies of every size. They have such fun zooming around EATING mosquitos and chasing each other. Of course they have to investigate people but they are totally harmless. I was at first, concerned about the dunks affecting other species than mosquitos but every week I see new dragonfly larvae skins attached to the ornamental grass or the stem of a lily blossom and know a new dragonfly nymph has emerged from the pond, unzipped itself and spread its wings.
After hurricane Ike, I had to drain our pond to clean out the extensive debris but I left several pounds of the smaller sediment after discovering dozens of naiads and immediately refilled the pond with well water so their life cycle will have minimal interruption. Dragonflies are an important mosquito control vector.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 13, 2008 at 10:55 AM:
mcate, I think the dragonflies eat more flying adult mosquitoes, and the nymphs eat the skeeter larvae, than anything else! And, the dragonflies I've seen here are really gorgeous!
I found more research that claim the bats may not be as useful if other insects are more readily available (like moths). The toads consume a lot but are restricted to the adult mosquitoes within their reach at ground level.
I think you've all convinced me the Dunks are safe enough to try. If you've read some of the other posted comments, I believe a few of the repellent shrubs mentioned may be worth trying as well, as long as they add to the landscape.
...
Subject: American Beautyberry
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on October 11, 2008 at 06:47 PM:
I can't find it right now, but the leaves of the american beautyberry are made into a mosquito repellant. I made a copy of the page, just have to find it. http://hort.ufl.edu/shrubs/CALAMEA.PDF
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 11, 2008 at 07:29 PM:
Aaah, I'm a zone too cold for the American beautyberry, but I have friends in zone 7 that may benefit from planting a shrub or two. If you find the info on mosquito repellent from the leaves, please post it (link or page scan) if you can!
Thanks again wormfood!
Bev
...
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on October 11, 2008 at 07:38 PM:
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 11, 2008 at 11:02 PM:
Wormfood, It looks like purple beautyberry will work in my zone, and it IS a real beauty! Not only do the leaves repel skeeters and ticks, it's deer resistant, too!! That's a big bonus in my neighborhood. I'll check the vendors for the purple variety!
Thanks again for the great info,
Bev
...
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on October 12, 2008 at 11:31 AM:
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 12, 2008 at 11:58 AM:
Wormfood, I found those articles after researching your initial post, too. I don't think making homemade mosquito repellent creams or lotions from the beautyberry shrubs would be wise at this point, until more testing of the toxicity to humans is done, but crumbling the leaves and wiping the skin sounds harmless and useful to me!
Bev
...
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on October 12, 2008 at 07:29 PM:
ya, I havent done it yet. I want to try it in the chicken coop and maybe just throw some leaves around in my bird/greenhouse. I've got a pond and a fishtank in there and the drip hose especially attracts the mosquitos. Your welcome for the info but I thank you for reminding me. nancy
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 12, 2008 at 08:02 PM:
Nice to meet you Nancy! Spreading the leaves around troublesome areas is a good idea! I tried using garlic cloves in an open rain barrel once and it worked for a week or two. I didn't have sufficient garlic to keep placing them often enough to be affective the entire summer.
Bev
...
Subject: chimney swifts
Posted by wormfood (from Lecanto, FL) on October 11, 2008 at 06:14 PM:
http://birds.suite101.com/article.cfm/facts_about_chimney_sw... I used to raise chimney swifts, what an experience! IF i remember correctly, they ate 1200 mosquitos a night. The Driftwood Wildlife assoc. has plans for a makeshift chimney and a website for reporting sightings for their study. Very interesting stuff.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 11, 2008 at 06:45 PM:
Wow, wormfood thanks for the info and the link! With a few bats, toads, and swifts, a yard could be picked clean of skeeters in a couple of nights!!
Thanks for reading and posting,
Bev
...
Subject: even leaves - BTI
Posted by AlohaHoya (from Keaau, HI) on October 10, 2008 at 02:54 PM:
VERY good article!!! We have 4 different mozzies here with their different attack times!!! I didn't know about gutters but will clean them out.
I spray piles of garden waste and under trees with BTI (Baccilus Thurengensis Israelensis.... spelling?) as those buggers use tiny reservoirs of on the leaves and in the axils of plants (bananas, heliconias etc.) to breed. They are so hard to get rid of!!!!
Carol
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 10, 2008 at 03:06 PM:
AlohaHoya, BTI is the active mosquito-killing bacteria found in "Dunks", too. It's supposed to be organic, but I'm still too chicken to try it, lol. If next year's skeeter population gets out of hand, I'll have no other choice than to use it.
Thanks for reading,
Bev
...
Posted by AlohaHoya (from Keaau, HI) on October 10, 2008 at 03:36 PM:
Yes...it is in the dunks and in the granules. I also buy it in 2.5 gal. jugs and dilute it in a 16 gal. sprayer and 'do' 12 acres....quite a job! It works. My dogs drink from the ponds where I put it with no problems...it is VERY safe.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 10, 2008 at 03:38 PM:
AlohaHoya, I'm glad to know about your experience with it, makes me feel a little less tense about it!
Thanks,
Bev
...
Subject: RE: Planters with water reservoirs
Posted by Jan23 (from Salem Cnty, NJ) on October 10, 2008 at 08:29 AM:
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.
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on October 10, 2008 at 09:47 AM:
Wow, I never thought of the planters with reservoirs, maybe that is where MY problem starts. We've had a terrible year. Good article.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 10, 2008 at 10:08 AM:
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.
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on October 10, 2008 at 10:44 AM:
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.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 10, 2008 at 02:09 PM:
I have a good friend that uses the Dunks and has had no problems with her plants or wildlife.
...
Posted by Jan23 (from Salem Cnty, NJ) on October 10, 2008 at 02:58 PM:
Thanks everybody. Sounds like I will be getting dunks...SOON!!! lol
...
Posted by carrielamont (from Milton, MA) on October 10, 2008 at 06:04 PM:
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!
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on October 10, 2008 at 11:20 PM:
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
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on June 27, 2009 at 10:38 PM:
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.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 27, 2009 at 11:13 PM:
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
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on June 27, 2009 at 11:50 PM:
I'd be interested in your recipe, my sister makes up potions, too.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 28, 2009 at 12:35 AM:
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.
...
Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on June 28, 2009 at 12:42 AM:
thanks, i'll check with my little sis to see what she's using. I love her lip balms
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 28, 2009 at 01:08 AM:
I really love MY lip balms, LOL. They're so quick and easy to make!
...
Posted by holly_grower (from Bear, DE) on June 29, 2009 at 08:20 AM:
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.
...
Posted by Sundownr (from (Bev) Wytheville, VA) on June 29, 2009 at 09:13 AM:
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.
...
Posted by Napergal (from Naperville, IL) on June 29, 2009 at 12:29 PM:
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??
...
Posted by Jan23 (from Salem Cnty, NJ) on June 29, 2009 at 01:24 PM:
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.
We quickly corrected our overflow screen blunder, and sealed the entire water system to prevent mosquitoes from entering, or leaving. What was left of the azolla could not grow quickly enough to cover the ponds at this point. I needed 
