Are there any legit mosquito control options besides just reducing breeding water?

The Coffee Shop
1

I have highly active and a large number of mosquitoes. It has basically rendered my deck useless.

I’ve done some research tonight, and the gist of the solutions seem to be:
Don’t allow for any standing water (done this)Spray DEET all over your bodyConsider using a citronella candle, but they are hit or miss and really only work for an hourUse yellow light bulbs outdoors so you don’t attract themThat’s about it. Other sprays or repellents aren’t so great, and the various traps all are mildly useful at best.

Any other ideas? I’ve considered renting one of those traps that you hook a propane tank up to, running that during the day or twilight and hoping for the best thereafter (or the next day). I think the various infestation of vines and shrubbery of my neighbors provides a fertile hang out areas as well.

2

I have highly active and a large number of mosquitoes. It has basically rendered my deck useless.

I’ve done some research tonight, and the gist of the solutions seem to be:
Don’t allow for any standing water (done this) Spray DEET all over your body Consider using a citronella candle, but they are hit or miss and really only work for an hour Use yellow light bulbs outdoors so you don’t attract themThat’s about it. Other sprays or repellents aren’t so great, and the various traps all are mildly useful at best.

Any other ideas? I’ve considered renting one of those traps that you hook a propane tank up to, running that during the day or twilight and hoping for the best thereafter (or the next day). I think the various infestation of vines and shrubbery of my neighbors provides a fertile hang out areas as well.
I think MattinSF might have some information on a “Catch and Relocate” program.

3

I bought a fogger from Northern Tool, it seems to work on calm nights. I spray the perimeter of my yard and under the deck.

I have an open field behind my house. I was thinking about building a couple of bat houses.

4

**I have highly active and a large number of mosquitoes. It has basically rendered my deck useless. **

Wasps actually do an awesome job of controlling the mosquito population. Of course that has its own problems.

If you are just talking about your deck area, I have a possible solution. Get a fan or two and run them. Mosquitos are really adversly affected by anything more than a gentle breeze. If they can’t land on you they can’t bite you.

Bernie

5

Move. That’s what I did.

6

You can look into mosquitonix type solution - very expensive

One of the MosquitoNix® system mist solutions is Pyrethrum, a natural botanical insecticide, derived from dried Chrysanthemum flowers. The Pyrethrum is heavily diluted, making a water-based spray that is biodegradable and does not leave a residue. MosquitoNix’s staff entomologist Dr. Raymond Thompson explains that Pyrethrum has been used around humans and mammals since the mid 1800s.

7

I used to work near the water and the outdoor area was unbearable. They got some of the propane things (I don’t know how they work) and they seemed to really help a lot, might be worth looking into.

8
  1. There are tablets you can put into ponds and fountains that kill mosquito larvae.
  2. Attract bats by putting in a bat house or two.
  3. Attract dragon flies (mosquito hawks) by putting some 18-25 inch high bamboo stakes out in your yard.
  4. Put in a martin house.
  5. Call your county mosquito control (if they have one) and ask them to fog your street.
9

There are several devices that I know work well. I have friends and coworkers who use them and they work perfectly.

http://www.mosquito-zapper.com/mosquito_deleto.htm

I believe it covers a half-acre of area and works extremely well.

Also, go to homedepot.com and type in mosquito in the keyword search. They’ll have some devices. Notice the Thermacell device. It is a personal device that is phenomenal - though it only covers a 15 square foot area. I have used these while hunting, and in a matter of minutes all the mosquitos around me have been cleared.

10

Bats ! and Purple martins,common knighthawk,whip-poor-will.

11

http://members.tripod.com/~susano/images/BAT4.GIF
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12

There are several devices that I know work well. I have friends and coworkers who use them and they work perfectly.

http://www.mosquito-zapper.com/mosquito_deleto.htm

I believe it covers a half-acre of area and works extremely well.

Also, go to homedepot.com and type in mosquito in the keyword search. They’ll have some devices. Notice the Thermacell device. It is a personal device that is phenomenal - though it only covers a 15 square foot area. I have used these while hunting, and in a matter of minutes all the mosquitos around me have been cleared.
I got one of those zappers. It works very well. I have to hose off the dead mosquitos every couple of days.