Mosquitoes- Dealing With This Common Pest

Background On Mosquitoes

So you're contemplating moseying around in the good ole' outdoors? Sounds great on paper… but what about the reality? What about the assault from the mosquito? Now, it's more than a minor annoyance. This little creature has killed millions. Technically it doesn't kill people, it's more just the transfer agent of death. It is really infected person, or more accurately, the disease he has that kills. Mosquitoes bring this about by biting an infected person and then transferring the disease-causing viruses and parasites by biting an unaffected person. Sadly, the mosquito does not fall victim to the disease he carries. Annually this pest transfers diseases to roughly 70 million people a year.

Mosquitoes have been tormenting the earth's inhabitants for millions of years. Originally called "biting flies", the name was changed to "mosquito" in 1572 to distinguish it from the common house fly. Mosquito means "little fly" in Spanish.

Reducing the number of mosquitoes

Tubs of Water

Tubs of placid water can produce mosquitoes. So remove these tubs. If you have a pool, cover it, when not in use. Or, add small, top-feeding minnows called mosquito fish, advises the AMCA (American Mosquito Control Association). Or, sprinkle BT (bacillus thuringiensus) in standing water, such as swimming pools or fish ponds. BT is available at home-and-garden stores in granule form or as so-called "dunks," which are said to look like green doughnuts. It's not toxic to humans or animals. The LarvaSonic, which transmits sound waves into water at the resonant frequency of the mosquito larvae air bladders, rupturing the internal tissue and causing death, according to the company.

Citronella smoke has a so so affect.

Dragonfly, man's best friend?

Dragonfly

In addition to eating mosquitoes, the dragonfly also eats flies, bees and, sadly, butterflies. They do not typically bite humans (unless they are cornered and have no out). They have been dubbed "mosquito hawks" in North America. Dragonflies are the fastest insects in existence, flying up to 38 miles per hour. This is faster than humans and most animals! The fastest man, Asafa Powell, was clocked at 28mph while running the 100 meter race. The fastest woman is Marion Jones who sprinted at 23mph.

Co2 Mosquito Traps (mosquito attracter)

Sometimes when you want to solve something the best solution is to seek out the opposite of what you wish. So, if you ant to get rid of mosquitoes you would use something to attract them. Such is the idea behind the Co2 Mosquito trap.

Mosquito traps let out a carbon dioxide together with other things that attract female mosquitoes (sugary scents, lactic acid, octenol, warmth, water vapor and sounds). Female mosquitoes are attracted to it, hook-line-and-sinker. They are sucked into a net or receptacle by an electric fan. The American Mosquito Control Association say they are affective in killing a "measurable" amount of mosquitoes. But, it doesn't kill enough of the population especially given its very expensive price of $300 to $1,400. An old entomologist joke goes, "What do you do if you're given a mosquito attracter? Put it in your neighbor's yard." Put the attracter far enough away so that if it works at all, it will pull the insects away from you, not bring them to you.

Avoiding Mosquitoes