Pest control - Mosquito Magnet?

[CarlD]

It was Lemon Fresh Joy and it's false. Check out the Urban Legend Reference page.
http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/dishsoap.asp

Rats! I was hoping it was real--and nice'n'cheap!

[waterbear]

When I go camping I just spray on the DEET and have citronella candles or torches every few feet around the area. Works pretty good. The little coils that you light and then smoulder seem to be somewhat effective also. I've tried some of the less expensive solutions such at the ones that just use a heat source and octanol (mosquito attracter) or repellant and they didn't work for me (dont want to metion any brand names but they look like a litte lantern that doesn't work when it's OFF or a tiny COLMAN stove). The large propane based ones that generate CO2 and also use octanol are what several campgrounds in Florida that I have been to used and they seemed to keep the area pretty clear, however.

[mwsmith2]

I have a basic problem with the "mosquito magnet". The problem is that it attracts mosquitos. I don't want something that brings in half of the neighborhood's mosquitos to my backyard! Sure, it's supposed to kill them, but I'm pretty sure that not all of them get sucked in.

I bought one of those "mosquito mister" systems. Yes, I've heard all the horror stories about them, but after two years of use, I've yet to see any one of them come true. My house is arranged in a U shape, with my pool in the middle of the U. This arrangement creates several permanently shaded areas that those little buggers just love. When I was previewing the house before we bought it, you couldn't stand back by the pool equipment for more than 10 seconds before you were completely covered in those little *******s. Even when you went swimming....if you kept yourself submerged to the nose, they'd bite you on your exposed cheeks. Completely not fun, especially if you wanted to swim at night.

After the mist system was installed, that completely stopped. We don't even need screens on our doors now.

Michael

[Poconos]

I just kill everything in sight. If the fog doesn't get them the noise will. Not cheap but very effective.

[CarlD]

Dang, Al! That thing looks like a flame-thrower!

In the past we've used a bug zapper. They work pretty well, but you cannot get one bigger than recommended unless you want to get ALL the bugs in the neighborhood!

[ivyleager]

Mosquito's weren't a problem here in N.C. last year, the biting deer flies were. Anyway, I haven't had to use a mosquito repellent near pool for some reason. My husband and I do use ThermaCELL cartidges when we're hunting in the woods in a blind. Works wonderfully. We just picked up the larger lantern to try on the patio by pool this spring/summer if necessary.

CaryB

[CrisL]

I also use a fogger when the buggers get too bad. It works pretty well if you use it a few times in a row. My younger daughter really attracts mosquitoes for some reason. I have threatened to have her stand in the far end of the yard to attract them all so we could be more comfortable by the pool. She was not amused.

[NWMNMom]

What on earth does a person do when you have to worry about contamination from pesticides in ground water and drift to surface water containing Koi? Our County Extension told us no pesticides are safe for our shallow well (flowing stream at 7' down)

We do have frogs and bats here, but I don't think there could ever be enough to keep up with the buzzing population of blood suckers here, unless we have an extremely dry year(which is not this year as the Red River of the North spread out again this year, so the Red River Valley became just the Red River again.)

Mosquitos are the State Bird here in Minnesota - when the sun goes around the side of the house or behind clouds - yikes! They can carry you away or you actually BREATH mosquitos. We had a mosquito magnet (still have but not effective enough so its been retired) The thing does attract and kill, but there are just too many when you live in a low lying former swamp and propane is too spendy to keep supplying a couple of those things constantly. We really seriously considered one of those pool domes -

[prh129]

I was researching yesterday and came across a product called "Mosquito Barrier". It's basically very strong garlic juice that you spray around the yard (on plants I think) and the smell is said to go away within an hour or so but the mosquitos are supposed to smell it for weeks and it is supposed to keep them away. I think it sold for $22 or so dollars for a quart. If you google this you should find it. I was thinking of trying a quart. I'd prefer a non-pesticide option if it works.

I'm also going to use the tiki torches around the pool idea for lighting.

Peter

[NWMNMom]

I wonder if putting up some bat houses would help too. We HAVE bats but maybe need more? Not much to do about attracting dragon flies and frogs are in no short supply either.

I may just try that MB stuff. Last year someone told us to try this mixture with Lysterene, Epsom Salt and beer, in fact they swore by it saying the Master Gardner guy on the radio uses it all the time. Hogwash - tried it twice and NADA. Back to the drawing board.