Mosquito Magnets

[Dreepa]

Does anyone have one of these? Do they really work?

I have about 50 bites and I was only outside for 1/2 hour.  My kids were covered in bites.

Any info?

http://www.mosquitomagnet.com/mosquito_magnet/

[Kat Kanning]

Sounds like you guys are working great as mosquito magnets and you don't need to buy any extra equipment.

[Russell Kanning]

Keyes like theirs.

[mvpel]

We've noticed a very significant decline in our mosquito population - when my brother and I were working on moving the fence in June 2005, we were surrounded by clouds of mosquitos.  We have a swampy area out back, and the mosquitos were thriving in the layers of damp leaves left behind when the water dried up - swarms would fly out wherever you stepped.

We bought our mosquito magnet late in the year - used on eBay, unfortunately - and ran it for August & September, and put it out in April this year.  Last year we noticed a significant decline in the number of bites, and this year, and the unit was soon surrounded by interested mosquitoes and black flies.

So far, we've had a reasonably good catch of black flies and mosquitos between my neighbor's unit and mine, and a very big drop in the bite count and overall level of annoyance.  We were sitting outside with the screen door on the porch open this evening, and no problem.  We also deployed "Mosquito Dunks" in the pond, and I think between that and the Magnets we've really messed up the mosquito mating season.

Positioning is key - the unit generates a cloud of CO2 and the Octenol attractant, which blows downwind - the mosquitos follow this upwind in search of food.  If you are between the Magnet and where the mosquitos breed and rest (swamp, pond, dark woods, etc), you will be the first meal they find, and they won't make it to the Magnet.  A Union-Leader article showed a father and child playing on a slide a dozen feet away from a Magnet - they're either numbskulls or they moved the Magnet for the photo op.

Whatever you do, avoid buying used, especially sight unseen.  The Mosquito Magnets can be very finicky devices, very sensitive to impurities in the propane and tank-valve safety gizmos.  We had to spend about a hundred bucks in repair service on ours over the winter, and wound up spending almost as much as a new unit by the time all was said and done, and it's on the blink again after working fine for a few weeks - it may just be that I'm trying to run the tank down to flat empty, instead of replacing it with a full tank after the third week.  Finicky, as I said. 

The eBay seller didn't include any of the tools, either, and the unit was an early model that didn't have the fuel-clearing valve - that was installed when I sent it in for repair.  The newer versions are a bit more robust, I gather.

Also, I have the "Liberty" model which needs to be plugged in to a power outlet.  The Liberty Plus is self-powered, which is much more convenient.  I'm probably going to buy a new Liberty Plus tomorrow, so I don't have to run a power cord 100' across the yard.

[Pat K]

But how do you get the Mosquitos to eat the metal first?

[Dreepa]

Thanks mvpel.

I was mowing the lawn the other night.  I had to stop for about 5 minutes and I killed over 50 of them. 
I think I will be getting one soon.

[mvpel]

They're pretty expensive, but based on my experience so far when used in conjunction with the larvaecide dunks in open water, they can really lay waste to the breeding cycle.

Oh, and you should remember to get a big augered stake (like a dog tie-out), cable, and a padlock with which to secure the unit to the ground.  Since they're quite pricey, I'd be worried about it walking off, especially the cordless ones, and especially in the shady areas where the units are best positioned.

[ravelkinbow]

I have heard that dryer sheets in your pockets will help keep them away from you, I haven't yet tried it myself.  Presently I have used deep wood's off and that seemed to work.

[KBCraig]

Sounds like you guys are working great as mosquito magnets

"I don't have to outrun the bear, I just have to outrun you!"

[Atlas]

I thought black flies were the only annoyance. But mosquitos are bad too. That sucks! I think I'll stay in Mich. Ok, doubt that. Only joking. Are mosquitos and flies bad in the Concord/Manchester area as well?

[Ron Helwig]

I thought black flies were the only annoyance. But mosquitos are bad too. That sucks! I think I'll stay in Mich. Ok, doubt that. Only joking. Are mosquitos and flies bad in the Concord/Manchester area as well?

Don't know about Conc/Manch, but being from MN, so far I haven't noticed the insects being a large issue. They're not nearly as big a problem as in northern MN.

[cathleeninnh]

I have swatted some bugs here. And I swatted some bugs in SC and in TX. Gee, are there really places that have no bugs?

Cathleen

[Dreepa]

I thought black flies were the only annoyance. But mosquitos are bad too. That sucks! I think I'll stay in Mich. Ok, doubt that. Only joking. Are mosquitos and flies bad in the Concord/Manchester area as well?

I live outside of Concord. I also leave near a large track of woods and some 'wetlands'.

[ravelkinbow]

I thought black flies were the only annoyance. But mosquitos are bad too. That sucks! I think I'll stay in Mich. Ok, doubt that. Only joking. Are mosquitos and flies bad in the Concord/Manchester area as well?

I live in Concord and the black flies are no real problem here, but at night the mosquitos are out no matter where you live all be it not as thick as outside of town.

[d_goddard]

Why kill the 'skeeters with petrochemicals and electricity when there are cute, furry animals who'll do the job for free?
Next week we're putting up a bat-house.
I'll evaluate how well it works and will post the results here