Mosquito Magnets

[Pat McCotter]

The trap is just full of mosquitos....

That's nice, but the relevant question is: is your yard less moquito-infested?

Hey! Don't confuse me with the facts!

[mvpel]

The trap is just full of mosquitos....

That's nice, but the relevant question is: is your yard less moquito-infested?

According to the literature, it takes a few weeks for the device to capture enough of the female mosquitos to start interrupting the breeding cycle, and significantly reduce the population.  A single female mosquito can lay up to 1,000 eggs in her short lifespan, and if the mosquito you caught in your Magnet has already laid 300 eggs, you've got a little ways to go before you can start making a real dent.

In the woods shared by my neighbor and I, we've had very good success taking a multi-pronged approach - his and my Mosquito Magnets capturing the active, blood-seeking females, plus larvacide "Mosquito Dunks" in the pond and a careful removal of all other areas of still water - no birdbaths, upright wheelbarrows, open garbage cans, etc.

Over here in Nizhniy Tagil, Russia, we've found out what the "Asian Tiger" mosquito looks like, first hand ... and first arm, first face, first neck, etc.  My first bite resulted in a bit of an immune response, with a warm red rash spreading up my finger and out a little on the back of my hand.

[maulotaur]

So in what parts of NH are mosquitoes a common problem, and if they are does the local government there have a mosquito department to spray for them?  If not, then why shouldn't they and who would deal with it?

-Paul

[BaneOfTheBeast]

Try planting basil in your yard - mosquitos hate it.
You can use it as bug spray as well - either steep a bunch in boiling water, storing it in a spray bottle after it cools - or you could make a tincture with grain alcohol and do the same thing. Garlic works as well, crush it and let it stand for 15 minutes before adding it to water for best results. I rather smell like garlic than be absorbing a bunch of chemicals into my skin - plus you're only spending the cost of seeds.

Eucalyptus, peppermint, catnip, lemon balm/grass, citronella grass, rosemary, marigolds and mosquito plants will keep them away as well.
Theres a ton more - with a little research I'm sure you could discover what else works.

[maulotaur]

Try planting basil in your yard - mosquitos hate it.

I am guessing that you need the entire yard covered with the basil (or other offending herb) except maybe for a few narrow walkways. 

-Paul

[BaneOfTheBeast]

Um... no.
Last year I only had a few (3 or 4) medium sized pots of such plants on my large porch and they never bothered me there, which was 12x20 ft., if not more. You don't have to plant every square foot, as you suggest, to be effective.
That and making my own bug spray I have found to be totally effective. Last year I had hardly any bites, and this year, so far none... while my neighbors complain about being eaten alive.
Or - build a bat house like d_goddard suggested - I just don't see spending 300-800 bucks on a machine that probably isnt very effective... Or if one is hell bent on getting a "device", theres others you can pick up for no more than 150 dollars (and as low as 50!) that have more features - like sonar, pulse, and aroma to lure the buggers. Which I would think they'd be more attracted to.
Just trying to put out more natural alternatives to spending hundreds of dollars on pest control. Seems a bit silly and unnecessary to me.

[dalebert]

Eliminating standing water whenever possible, and putting a few fish in small bodies of water will go a long way toward controlling them.

BTW, this was another case of a long dead thread being resurrected.

[BaneOfTheBeast]

 
It was the first topic on the board when I got to it.

[dalebert]

It was the first topic on the board when I got to it.

You're not the one who resurrected it.

[Pat McCotter]

And it was resurrected with a legitimate question - not answering a previous post.

[maulotaur]

Eliminating standing water whenever possible, and putting a few fish in small bodies of water will go a long way toward controlling them.

Well I know the usual precautions but am from a place where it is nearly impossible to remove all of the nearby sources.  They probably aren't as bad of a problem for as long as they are here in 'subtropical humid' climate on the coast.  If having a few basil plants works, then I am certainly all for that.

-Paul

[Riddler]

mostly we have problems w/ massachussites.
to big to swat...plus they whine & call the cops;
been in the shed workin' on a trap.... bein' as they's no cure.
they're like pod-people...attracted to N.H. way of life (on the outside)....
then, once a foothold, or host is established, they ooze ted-kennedyzymes....which slowly feed on self-reliant ideals, self-sufficiency, small-govt.-minded people, until you have trash pickup, govt. daycare/kindergarden, helmet laws, non-smoking naziism, 'sin-taxes'.......too weak to go on...............................................