Dealing with Mosquitoes

[Ridge Runner]

To save money, I'd like to just pour a pad and put a roof over it so I can work on things, and save the walls for later. Unfortunately, the only place I have to build is very shady and a haven for mosquitoes. They'll eat you up all day long.

How do you guys take get rid of them in an area? I know they make propane traps, but they're expensive and I've heard mixed reviews. Bug zappers seem to be hit or miss, and unless it kills enough at night, I don't know how well it would do in daylight.

 

[1320stang]

You have to get rid of the standing water they're laying their eggs in.

 

[Ridge Runner]

That's pretty much a given.

 

[BionicSniper]

There is not much that you can do after late winter early spring. The best way to deal with them is to treat all standing water in the area before temperatures get to a point that the egg's will hatch.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

We use the mosquito coils out on the deck. Does a good job don't mind the scent.

 

[skeletonizer]

I currently live in MI where we have pretty serious mosquitos.

As a control measure I am considering moving to Tucson... I'm not kidding at all.

No snow shovels.
No lawn mowers.
No mosquitos.
No rampant welfare state.
No **** roads.

Not sure why I'm still here.

 

[ears]

Repellant and a big fan

 

[Gary S]

When the mosquitoes are bad here, I use bug zappers. I run them only at night when they are attracted to the light. On a good night, the electrical grid fills totally with dead bodies and if I don't blow them clean every morning with my air compressor, they're too full to work a second night. They really seem to help.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

Repellant and a big fan

+1
That's the other trick, mosquitoes don't like moving air.

 

[olytdi]

When the mosquitoes are bad here, I use bug zappers. I run them only at night when they are attracted to the light. On a good night, the electrical grid fills totally with dead bodies and if I don't blow them clean every morning with my air compressor, they're too full to work a second night. They really seem to help.

I doubt seriously that this is resulting in the reduction of mosquitos in any way but probably is resulting in the sterilization of the surrounding area of other, non-pest bugs.

Light isn't an attraction mechanism for mosquitos. They've done fine for a million years before light bulbs were invented. Mosquitos key-in on chemical vapors from skin and breath; dark,moving objects; warmth, and sweat -- all things that most warm-blooded animals produce. Females bite; males don't. Mosquitos have no light-attractive component to their behavior. If you want to reduce being bit (or pierced, really), you reduce habitat and make yourself less attractive.

 

[HAP]

Two words: "Yard Guard". Very effective. Try to get it on the surrounding sructure for best results. I use it in the shop when mosquitoes get in there. It keeps killing for days... and repells any new ones.
R,
HAP

 

[Gary S]

I doubt seriously that this is resulting in the reduction of mosquitos in any way but probably is resulting in the sterilization of the surrounding area of other, non-pest bugs.
.

Explain that to the 50,000 or so dead mosquitoes I dump out each morning.

 

[5lima30]

I've had good luck with a Themocell. We use it when we're at our camper on the lake.

 

[daveroy]

Big huge fan, moving lots of air... with a screen over the back side!

 

[bdamico]

I installed a mosquito misting system. Did it myself for half of what the services wanted

http://www.mistaway.com/

 

[the_saint]

Malathione.

A fogger used for several days in a row will rid the are of mosquitoes. They are quite territorial and regular fogging will allow you to stay outside free of mosquitoes.

Eliminating all of the standing water is key!

 

[machine_punk]

Move to Napa Valley. Everywhere else I have lived in this world, I have attracted every mosquito within a mile of me. I haven't had even one mosquito bite in the 4 years I have lived in Napa Valley.

Your only other option in high-mosquito areas is a screened in porch. When I lived in Georgia, below the 'bug line' (a word I made up...where it rarely ever freezes, so bugs never get 'knocked back,' they just keep breeding and breeding), I had a 15ft x 15ft screen porch built on the back of the house. It was the only way to survive. I routinely mowed when it was 100 degrees out. Any cooler and they would eat me alive.

M_P

 

[Rye425]

I use the cutter backyard spray and it seems to work well so far. In addition to regular bug spray they're non existent. Gnats are the nuisance around here lately. They just like to fly in your face and die in your eyes lol

 

[theoldwizard1]

Get a propane fogger. Make certain to do all of the grassy areas as well as the bushes. A gallon of the spray is expensive but it goes a long way.

 

[jsb025]

+1 for malathion

 

[BHM]

+2 for the fan.

I was also told by an old couple I met one day while *********. They cover their faces, arms and legs with Pine-Sol. While I am sure it works, I think I would rather the bites but hey, if you are desperate, try it and let us know how it work.

Here in the Louisiana swamp region, they are really only bad right at sunset. If you can avoid being out at that time period and use a fan, you might be fine.

 

[BD1]

Big huge fan, moving lots of air... with a screen over the back side!

I have a 36'' barn fan . Really does work. You could even look for a HIGH VELOCITY fan. They are noisy but work. Sounds like a airplane but moves air.

 

[Steroblan]

if the listed doesn't work. Move to dry climate.

 

[4BT]

Big Shop Fan


I have yet to meet a Florida mosquito who could fly against a 20mph headwind

 

[TwoInch]

Explain that to the 50,000 or so dead mosquitoes I dump out each morning.

it had been proven, mosquitos are not attracted to light, or ultra-violet light which the zapper puts out. they have done studies, and set of collection traps under these zappers and counted and identified the bugs killed. one count was 14,000 insects killed, 31 (0.22%)were mosquitos, 6,670 (48%)were midges and aquatic insects. most midges look very similar to a mosquito, especially when they are dead and dried up. this is probably why it seems like there are so many mosquitos in the screen of the zapper. this is why zappers have fallen from popularity in the last decade or two.

mosquito are attracted to three things, co2, heat, and sweat(moisture)
. they have evolved in very efficient little buggers.

a lot of people say put up purple martin houses out, or bat houses, but this is ineffective too. mosquitos have been dealing with birds and bats for all of time. they reproduce enough to survive with these predators picking them off in massive amounts. as have any animal that has natural predators. its all a balance.

chemicals is the only way to cut down on them with any efficiency, but even that is limited. starting with draining or treating standing water is most important. wearing deet is still the most effective way of not being carried away.

 

[Sureshot]

it had been proven, mosquitos are not attracted to light, or ultra-violet light which the zapper puts out. they have done studies, and set of collection traps under these zappers and counted and identified the bugs killed. one count was 14,000 insects killed, 31 (0.22%)were mosquitos, 6,670 (48%)were midges and aquatic insects. most midges look very similar to a mosquito, especially when they are dead and dried up. this is probably why it seems like there are so many mosquitos in the screen of the zapper. this is why zappers have fallen from popularity in the last decade or two.

mosquito are attracted to three things, co2, heat, and sweat(moisture)
. they have evolved in very efficient little buggers.

a lot of people say put up purple martin houses out, or bat houses, but this is ineffective too. mosquitos have been dealing with birds and bats for all of time. they reproduce enough to survive with these predators picking them off in massive amounts. as have any animal that has natural predators. its all a balance.

chemicals is the only way to cut down on them with any efficiency, but even that is limited. starting with draining or treating standing water is most important. wearing deet is still the most effective way of not being carried away.

The bulbs put out the heat. I run one inside the shop so after a night of being the "heat source" in the shop all the bugs are dead. Would be unbearable otherwise.

 

[orangeoil]

Come on, get over pesticides and yard treatments. Stop messing up the environment. Wear more clothes or repellent. These lovely creatures have a right to be hear too and they need blood. Cigarette smoke repels so start smoking and lots of alcohol in your blood stream makes you less appealing. If you drink and smoke you should be okay.

 

[santagary]

Our problem in June in Colorado (the dry season) are no see ums...1/100th the size of a mosquito. I have knots all over my head, arms and legs. they crawl under socks, long sleeves, and pants legs to bite you. They are well named and you don't see or hear them unless they fly right in front of your nose. Once the rains (monsoons) start in July, they go away. Any ideas out there?

 

[Raze]

Cyper Wp Insecticide (Amazon, $30.00)

+

4 Gallon Backpack Sprayer (Harbor Freight $20-30)

Bye-bye Mosquitoes, apply once a month. I use this in my heavily wooded backyard in Atlanta. The first 2 summers living in the house we couldn't use our backyard, even on our deck which is 16ft off the ground, without getting murdered by Mosquitoes (grilling sucked). Now we can be outside, on the deck, or working in the yard for hours and maybe get bit by one or two. I used to have to wear long sleeves, long pants, hat, and something to cover my neck and would have a swarm of 50-100 around me. Now I can work in short sleeves and shorts which is a big improvement when it's 95° outside...

 

[BPJOOP93]

i use a 50-50 mix of white vineger and water and spray the area around us. do NOT use pure vinegar it is an acid and kills grass. it works and is cheap.

 

[darkk]

We have a skeeter issue here once in a while also. My neighbors ( pakistans) rented the house next door. They must have every yard art item in the local Pier One store. They have little water thingies and fish pond plastic pools, fountains, bird baths, piles of stuff and anything that stands above the ground to collect water. They also have about 5 billion citronella torches around their yard. I keep telling them they need to get rid of the standing water but Seems they just don't get it. They have skeeters too but don't associate the water with the skeeters. Pretty soon I won't even be able to see the house because of all the citronella torches.

 

[pnut]

I had this for years here in Michigan in the woods, here is the best ways I found to control after years of trial and error.

- Professional comes to spray the yard every 3-4 weeks ($50) - the BIGGEST impact.
- no standing water, anywhere
- Water the lawn less (if you do)
- Trim down all the low lying scrub at the edge of the lawn headed into the woods
- Hardware store fogger (only lasts for that day)
- Huge bug zapper at the edge of the woods (Far enough away to not attract them to you)
- Have a fan blowing on / near you. The moving air makes it harder a bit for them to hang around.


Don't bother with the mosquito attract and sucking machines.

- The hardware store yard spray works ok, but by the time you spend the money on that, the pro costs about the same, and works 10 times better and lasts longer. This was the best investment I made to enjoy my yard again was to pay the $250-$300 per summer and have him do it every few weeks.

 

[A1an]

Try planting mosquito repelling plants around the space (marigolds and citronella are typically easy to come by).

In the past we have always had issues with hundreds of mosquitoes hanging out in the front entry way of our home. A few months ago I decided to put three citronella plants in a large pot beside our front door and this has really helped out. Curious to see the results in a few months when the local mosquito population really starts to flourish.

 

[Zeke]

Come on, get over pesticides and yard treatments. Stop messing up the environment. Wear more clothes or repellent. These lovely creatures have a right to be hear too and they need blood. Cigarette smoke repels so start smoking and lots of alcohol in your blood stream makes you less appealing. If you drink and smoke you should be okay.

Save the environment, offer yourself. I hate mosquitoes. Around here they carry Lymes disease.

 

[Kevin54]

Try planting mosquito repelling plants around the space (marigolds and citronella are typically easy to come by).

In the past we have always had issues with hundreds of mosquitoes hanging out in the front entry way of our home. A few months ago I decided to put three citronella plants in a large pot beside our front door and this has really helped out. Curious to see the results in a few months when the local mosquito population really starts to flourish.

Mosquito repelling plants only keep the mosquitoes off of the plants. Bug zappers only kill the bugs that are not mosquitoes. Moving air as with a large fan and or propane foggers work best to get rid of them.

 

[moss9994]

I currently live in MI where we have pretty serious mosquitos.

As a control measure I am considering moving to Tucson... I'm not kidding at all.

No snow shovels.
No lawn mowers.
No mosquitos.
No rampant welfare state.
No **** roads.

Not sure why I'm still here.

you made me laugh with this reply.

 

[moss9994]

Big Shop Fan


I have yet to meet a Florida mosquito who could fly against a 20mph headwind

This is what I use also.

 

[sirsloop]

get a big *** fan and put a screen over it. The skeeters get sucked up against the screen and cant fly away. you come in once a day, every other day, and spray them down with soapy water. The skeeters all die. You turn the fan off, clean off the screen, replace the screen, and repeat.

You can catch THOUSANDS of skeeters a day with a fan trap, and it absolutely makes a difference! Its way more effective than a bug zapper, granted maybe not as fun to watch

 

[mooseracing]

I use large zappers without the crappy screens and use the Mosquito attractant that brings them to the zappers. They also run 24/7 and help to kill the moths as well.

I have trout stream in the backyard and I live off my land, I'm not spraying any chemicals and I'm not going to get rid of the bugs entirely. I haven't tried the CO emitters yet but would like to.

Our zappers are helping, but it took about a year before we noticed it.

 

[Outlawmws]

I can't believe no one has mentioned geting more garlic in your diet. Some people attract mosquitoes more than others also. (SWMBO and my girls do, my son and I rarely get bitten.)

Other dietary things (besides alcohol and tobacco....) also help but I can't remember what they are.

As other have said: Citronella candles, torches (they sell citronella torch oil) and the coils also help. Draining breeding grounds (Don't forget old tires, plant trays and the like that collect water...), or if you have a pond getting mosquito fish is very effective.