[ale] WAY OT controlling asian tiger mosquitos and others

[Jim Kinney]

Let nature be your friend! Look for a product called "Mosquito Bits" (Home
Depot). It's basically dried granules of a bacteria that are predatory to
mosquitoes (and fleas and cutworms and other soft bodies biting larvae -
but not earthworms!). Pike Nurseries caries a version called BT (Bacillus
thuringiensis) (
http://www.amazon.com/Safer-Brand-Caterpillar-Killer-Concentrate/dp/B000GA7ZO8
)*. *I've had good success with this stuff at keeping the count down. The
rain this year has made the entire yard a haven for the winged vampires so
I'm out dosing my yard every 2 weeks with the stuff. The AC condensate
makes a nice moist spot right near the front door so there was always a
cloud. Almost put in a commercial air door.


On Tue, Jul 30, 2013 at 1:22 AM, Ron Frazier (ALE) <
atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:

> Hi Guys,
>
> You've been warned, WAY OT.
>
> Don't flame me for posting this, but you guys are my geeky brain trust,
> and you had a gardening thread going on recently, so I figured I'd try it.
>
> I live on a wooded property and there are huge numbers of mosquitoes
> around in the summer, particularly lately.  I think the main species active
> in the day time may be the Asian Tiger Mosquito.  If we go outside for more
> than 1-2 minutes, they're attacking with a vengeance.  I don't know for
> sure if they're Asian Tigers, since I'm too busy shewing, slapping, and
> moving to look closely at their appearance.  But I do know those are much
> more active in daylight hours than others; and I know I've occasionally
> seen their distinctive striped appearance.
>
> I'm not a big outdoors person, but this just reinforces my stay inside or
> in a car mentality, even in fair weather.  I have to make it a point to try
> to never leave the front house door or a car door open more than 5-10
> seconds.
>
> I'm posing this to you to find out if you've had personal experience with
> exotic solutions, some of which I'll mention.  I don't want to put
> pesticide / repellent on my skin.  I don't want to spray large parts of the
> yard with chemicals.  So, I'm wondering about some of the less invasive
> technologies.
>
> I've read enough to become convinced that ultrasonic devices don't work at
> all; and bug zapper devices don't primarily work on mosquitoes.
>
> I am interested to know if anyone has had experience with the mosquito
> magnet brand of propane / attractant driven trap.  According to Amazon
> reviews, they seem to work, but cost $ 300 to acquire and $ 40+ or so per
> month to run.  Some reviews say they're not durable.
>
> I would also be interested in the new OFF devices with a fan that you clip
> on your belt.  They've been advertising them like they're the shields
> around the starship Enterprise.  Let's just say I'm skeptical.
>
> Another thing that crossed my mind is those fans you can mount over the
> door which blow air downward.  At least that could keep the critters out of
> the house.
>
> The subject of bats may come up, and I'm glad to discuss it.  I did do
> some reading though that said bats will prefer other food sources where
> they can get more of a meal for less work.
>
> This is not a critical problem, and, truth be known, I probably wouldn't
> spend $ 300 to fight it.  But it is extremely annoying.  I just hate the
> idea of my blood being sucked to help create more of the #$#$%#$% stinking
> bugs.  There is also the remote chance of them carrying dangerous diseases.
>  Also, not being able to go outside hardly at all, is annoying even for me.
>
> Anybody have any suggestions that don't involve putting toxic chemicals on
> myself or the property?
>
> Any help is always appreciated.  Can't say I would implement any given
> suggestion, but I'd certainly consider them, and would enjoy learning about
> options.  I always learn things from the discussions here.  My reading has
> convinced me there is no silver bullet, as with so many real world
> problems.  I'd settle for just about any usable and affordable bullet.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Ron
>
>
> --
>
> (PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
> call on the phone.  I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
> mailing lists and such.  I don't always see new email messages very
> quickly.)
>
> Ron Frazier
> 770-205-9422 (O)   Leave a message.
> linuxdude AT techstarship.com
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-- 
-- 
James P. Kinney III
*
*Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain
at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail.
It won't fatten the dog.
- Speech 11/23/1900 Mark Twain
*
http://electjimkinney.org
http://heretothereideas.blogspot.com/
*
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