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JB · Guest

Hey!

Recently purchased three acres on a lake. Mosquitoes are everywhere in the
summer. Anyone have any recommendations on mosquito killers - Mosquito
Deleto (Coleman), Mosquito Magnet, Mosquito Vac? Citronella candles just
don't put a dent in these things.

Help!

TIA

John

World Traveler · Guest

Bad news, John. Three acres on a lake is going to have mosquitoes. You
can't defeat them, you can only learn to co-exist. The mosquitoes are a
product of the environment, which you can't change. The mosquitoes are
already under some control by their natural enemies -- preying mantis,
purple martins, etc. If you try to poison out the mosquitoes, you'll first
do in their natural enemies -- and the mosquitoes always come back first.

I also live on a large lake. Like everyone else around here, we have
everything screened in. Our large deck, with hot tub, is covered and
screened, as is the side sitting area and the front porch.

What you DON'T want to do is go out with some form of indiscriminate
pesticide, because you won't be able to get control of the mosquitoes, but
you will make the location dangerous for your pets, native birds, and the
other natural enemies of the mosquitoes. The best you can be is proactive
in minimizing mosquito propogation and encouring their natural enemies.

Your steps -- minimize standing water on your property -- no standing water
in plant pots, old tires, etc. Put up a purple martin house and add
habitat for other birds that may help the problem. Screen in a deck or
patio so you can enjoy the good weather without the bugs.

And expect that you won't be doing much outside work in the late afternoon
or evening, especially in the summer.

FYI, in this area we also have something called "blind mosquitoes", which
look like the regular type but do not bite. During period of the year (warm
air, cold water) they swarm by the millions, and I clean them out of my
driveway with a broom and a snow shovel. Overnight, I can fill a 5-gallon
can with dead mosquitoes. Now THAT'S a bug problem.

"JB" <jrbno@spamnoipa.net> wrote in message
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BW · Guest

World Traveler wrote:

Guest

Nice story, but it completely ignored his question, which was
experience/opinions on the mosquito magnet type of attractor/killer.
Apparently, you don't even know what they are, do you?

Joey Bob · Guest

trader4@optonline.net wrote:

Dandelion Acres · Guest

Bats.

Bats eat huge amounts of insects. Build a bathouse. Build several bathouses.
Google for info.

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