I'm waging a war on mosquitos starting this summer - what are best methods in your exp?

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Zeze

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
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I live in northern NJ - densely populated suburbs. We have a small but very quaint and 70% private backyard. It's about 20' x 40'. It's cute.

So I can't concede this beautiful yard to these mosquitos. It's just absurd if you think about it.

I'm trying a multi-pronged approach:
1. A basic natural yet potent potporri that 'jams' your signature (exhaling CO2, etc). It's $10 for 2 weeks. Pretty expensive. This is really not on permanent basis, but think of it as a cherry on top.

2. A classic electrified UV lamp light. Does this really work? I heard no matter how much you kill by trayfuls, you still get bit.

3. And last a full-on contact warfare by spraying this bug killer treatment to the lawn or everything (trees, leaves, etc).

I think these are diversified enough to not to directly compete with each other. If this doesn't work, and I wouldn't be surprised, I may wanna add the propane tank gas CO2 emitter with trap. If these mofos really wanna go all the way with me, then I will.

I got more, these are waiting:

4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BhV-o77RqQ An ugly ass industrial fan with a catching filter that obliterates mosquitos in vicinity.

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BhV-o77RqQ

6. Attend my local town hearing with the council and start a neighborhood-wide attack to all eliminate bogs, sitting water, dry out that nasty nearby creek.

7. Start a local campaign with a full-on residence education program on everyone doing above collectively.

Anything else I'm missing? (6 & 7 are jokes...i think)

How do you do it? What's effective in your OWN experience? (also state your residence / just the state)
 
Zeze

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
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I have it turned on now for the first time in my life. The zaps are satisfying.

Not that many now though. Average out to 1 zap a minute.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

No Lifer
May 24, 2003
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I heard putting some kind of net over a big box fan can help suck them in and they basically dehydrate to death. Serves them well, little bastards. I can confirm that Cisco catalyst 6500 Switches can also do the same to flies but that's a more expensive solution.

Not sure what the range of the box fans is though. I want to experiment with a portable design some time. I'm thinking it could be powered by some lithium cells or something and an inverter. My train of thought is that if you can mass kill a lot of them in a given general area it might limit the overall population growth. From what I read they don't tend to travel that far from the nest.

Oh and bug zappers don't actually work for mosquitoes. Learned that the hard way too. They are one of few bugs not actually attracted to the UV light bulb. I modded one and added a 120mm fan to see if I can get them to be sucked in but it runs on two lithium cells so there's not enough voltage to drive the fan. need to build a boost converter to bring it to like 12 volts.
 
Zeze

Zeze

Lifer
Mar 4, 2011
11,395
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Red Squirrel said:
Oh and bug zappers don't actually work for mosquitoes. Learned that the hard way too.
Click to expand...

What. I see pictures of zappers with trays FULL (human fist size) of dead mosquitos. Right now on mine, there's about 8-10 of them sitting or circling amount.
 
feralkid

feralkid

Lifer
Jan 28, 2002
16,794
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Don't bother with the UV trap, Mosquitos are not attracted by it, yet many beneficial insects are.

If you use an insecticide, confine it to the perimeter of the yard, again so as not to nuke the "good" bugs.

Best of luck to you.

Minnesota.
 
Last edited:
S

stargazr

Diamond Member
Jun 13, 2010
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Make sure if you have areas that collect water to hose them out occasionally. Trays under potted plants, bird baths etc.
 
S

Skyclad1uhm1

Lifer
Aug 10, 2001
11,383
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Raising the surface temperature of the planet a few hundred degrees should do the trick. Will also get rid of most of the other pests.
 
Iron Woode

Iron Woode

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 10, 1999
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mosquitoes love leafy bushes and shade as that is where they like to hide/rest. Trim bushes or remove unwanted bushes from the backyard. Shade can be harder to deal with.

The best thing to do would be to setup or build a covered area for people to gather. Perhaps one of those portable gazebos with netting?
 
Thebobo

Thebobo

Lifer
Jun 19, 2006
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tynopik said:
load a crop duster with DDT and douse the neighborhood
Click to expand...

ddt.JPG
 
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luv2liv

luv2liv

Diamond Member
Dec 27, 2001
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BoomerD said:
Dynatrap/aerotrap. Both work fairly well..
Click to expand...
thanks! that Dynatrap looks good. especially the smaller one for $35. some people complains about the CO2 not being produced after 1 year. but i guess i can always have yeast in a small container inside to produce the CO2
 
ImpulsE69

ImpulsE69

Lifer
Jan 8, 2010
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I've found having a female near you makes the best mosquito deterrent. At least for you.
 
gorobei

gorobei

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Jan 7, 2007
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dont bother with uv, it doesnt work. the things that attract mosquitoes are warm moist carbon dioxide air, human funk, and light/white colors. the main thing for females is tracking the rising plume of co2 you emit when you breathe. it has to be warm enough to rise and have enough water vapor. the expensive co2 traps use a chemical scent pack that you have to replace.

that dynatrap looks like it includes a uv light just to pull in non mosquitoes for bulk so it looks like it is doing something. you want to distinguish between mosquitoes and crane flies (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crane_fly) whose larvae are thought to eat mosquito larvae.
 
Red Squirrel

Red Squirrel

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May 24, 2003
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Zeze said:
What. I see pictures of zappers with trays FULL (human fist size) of dead mosquitos. Right now on mine, there's about 8-10 of them sitting or circling amount.
Click to expand...

There is a special block you can put in them that creates CO2. CO2 does attract them. Maybe this is what they were using? I tried a chemical reaction to create CO2 but really in the open I don't think it creates enough to be affective it just dissipates in the air. Would need to experiment more.

I also heard that cedar hedges attract mosquitoes, which is bad news for me since I have them all over the yard and I do like them so I would not really want to cut them. But maybe the trick is to put the big fans with netting near them so they are attracted and then die. I'll see how bad it is when I build my deck and start sitting out.
 
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Capt Caveman

Capt Caveman

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Jan 30, 2005
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None of your options are going to do anything. Zappers kill more beneficial insects than bad. Dynatrap or a Mosquito Magnet are your best options.
 
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Humpy

Humpy

Diamond Member
Mar 3, 2011
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Some simple genetic engineering to render all newborn females of the species sterile should do the trick.
 
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