Mosquito Wars - The Never Ending Battle

Reclaiming your yard from the mosquito...

Taking control of your backyard from the pesty mosquito is essential to enjoying evenings with your family and making memories that will last a lifetime. This lens is devoted to helping you find information as well as products that will help you reclaim your backyard. From prevention of mosquito breeding to insect repellents, we will explore all aspects necessary to prepare you for the Mosquito War. Life is too short to not make the most of every opportunity to ENJOY the JOURNEY. Don't let the mosquito rob you of this joy.

New Table of Contents

Homeowners guide to Mosquito Control
More information on mosquito control...
Mosquito War Products
What you should know about Mosquito Repellents
Mosquito Repellents
Insect Repellent Links
Mosquito Video
Mosquito talk, what's on your mind?.
Enjoy the outdoors...

Homeowners guide to Mosquito Control

Prevention of Mosquito Breeding

Homeowners can take the following steps to prevent mosquito breeding on their own property:

1. Destroy or dispose of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools or other containers that collect and hold water. Do not allow water to accumulate in the saucers of flowerpots, cemetery urns or in pet dishes for more than 2 days.

2. Clean debris from rain gutters and remove any standing water under or around structures, or on flat roofs. Check around faucets and air conditioner units and repair leaks or eliminate puddles that remain for several days.

3. Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools at least once a week and stock ornamental pools with top feeding predacious minnows. Known as mosquito fish, these minnows are about 1 - 1-1/2 inches in length and can be purchased or native fish can be seined from streams and creeks locally. Ornamental pools may be treated with biorational larvicides [ Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. israelensis (Bti) or S-methoprene (IGR) containing products] under certain circumstances. Commercial products "Mosquito Dunks" and "Mosquito Bits" containing Bti can be purchased at many hardware/garden stores for homeowner use. Zodiac, a division of Wellmark International, has developed Pre-Strike Preventative Mosquito Control (PMC) product that kills developing mosquitoes using insect growth regulator (IGR) technology. Like Mosquito Dunks, Zodiac's Pre-Strike can be found at many home/garden and pet specialty stores.

4. Fill or drain puddles, ditches and swampy areas, and either remove, drain or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar. These areas may be treated with Bti or methoprene products also.

5. Eliminate seepage from cisterns, cesspools, and septic tanks.

6. Eliminate standing water around animal watering troughs. Flush livestock water troughs twice a week.

7. Check for trapped water in plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. Arrange the tarp to drain the water.

8. Check around construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements to ensure that proper backfilling and grading prevent drainage problems.

9. Irrigate lawns and gardens carefully to prevent water from standing for several days.

10. If ditches do not flow and contain stagnant water for one week or longer, they can produce large numbers of mosquitoes. Report such conditions to a Mosquito Control or Public Health Office. Do not attempt to clear these ditches because they may be protected by wetland regulations.

More information on mosquito control...

I hope that these links are helpful so that you can win the war against the mosquito and reclaim your yard.

American Mosquito Control Association: Great resource for information on mosquito control.
Mayo Clinic info on Mosquito bites: Learn more about mosquito bites and treatment from the Mayo Clinic
CDC - Mosquito repellent: Centers for Disease Control's recommendations for mosquito repellent.
Mosquito Control Districts: Links to mosquito control districts in the United States

Mosquito War Products

SpringStar - Mosquito Trap

Product Features

This unique mosquito trap catches only the ones that bite.
Certified green, pesticide-free product.
Control mosquitoes without pesticides
One trap and lure set per box

Amazon Price: $11.99 (as of 10/16/2008)

Mosquito Dunks - 20 pk

Product Description
Mosquito dunks float on water and will keep on working for 30 days or longer under typical environmental conditions. While floating, they slowly release a long-term, biological mosquito larvicide at the water's surface. This larvicide gradually settles in the water where it is eaten by mosquito larvae growing there. Mosquito Dunks may be used in all types of standing water sites where mosquito larvae grow. Alternate wetting and drying will not reduce their effectiveness.DirectionsUse one Mosquito Dunk for up to 100 square feet of water surface, regardless of depth. They can be used whole or broken into portions and applied to containerized standing water found near the home such as animal watering troughs, bird baths, flower pots, roof gutters, and water gardens. To prevent them from being washed away, the Dunks can be anchored using a string tied through the center hole, or they can be staked in place. Warning:Hazards to Humans: Avoid contact with eyes or open wounds.Environmental Hazards: Do not apply directly to treated, finished drinking water reservoirs or drinking water receptacles when the water is intended for human consumption.

Amazon Price: $17.99 (as of 10/16/2008)

Flowtron BK-80D 80-Watt, 1-1/2-Acre Electronic Insect Killer

Product Features

High efficiency, non-clogging killing grid
Rugged, weatherproof construction; will not rust, crack or fade
Easy bulb replacement
Operates for only pennies a day
Unit dimensions: 11" X 11" X 18 1/2"

Amazon Price: $69.99 (as of 10/16/2008)

Dynatrap Insect Eliminator

Product Features

Powerful but whisper quiet fan to trap insects into the retaining cage
Operate 24 hours a day and 7 days a week
May be used indoors or outdoors
Bulbs will last an estimated 3,000 hours or approximately 4 months
Dynatrap has a 10 feet cord and includes a cleaning brush and metal chain to hang

Amazon Price: $96.64 (as of 10/16/2008)

SpringStar - Mosquito Lure

Product Features

The unique pheromone lure is safe and non-toxic and very effective at attracting mosquitoes into the trap.
Certified green, pesticide-free product.
Control mosquitoes without pesticides
One refill lure set per box

Amazon Price: $4.99 (as of 10/16/2008)

What you should know about Mosquito Repellents

Why You Should Use Mosquito Repellent

Insect repellent helps reduce your exposure to mosquito bites that may carry West Nile virus or other diseases, and allows you to continue to play, work, and enjoy the outdoors with a lower risk of disease.

When You Should Use Mosquito Repellent

Use repellent when you go outdoors. You should use repellent even if you're only going outside for a few minutes-it only takes one bite to get West Nile virus. Many of the mosquitoes that carry the West Nile virus bite between dusk and dawn. If you're outside during these hours pay special attention to using repellent.

Which Mosquito Repellents Work Best

A wide variety of insect repellent products are available. CDC recommends the use of products containing active ingredients which have been registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as repellents applied to skin and clothing.

When EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment. EPA registration means that EPA does not expect a product, when used according to the instructions label, to cause unreasonable adverse effects to human health or the environment.

Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, two have demonstrated a higher degree of efficacy in the peer-reviewed, scientific literature.* Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:
%u2022 DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide)
%u2022 Picaridin (KBR 3023)

Oil of lemon eucalyptus [p-menthane 3,8-diol (PMD)], a plant based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

These recommendations are for domestic use in the United States. See CDC Travelers' Health website for specific recommendations concerning protection from insects when traveling outside the United States.

In addition, certain products which contain permethrin are recommended for use on clothing, shoes, bed nets, and camping gear, and are registered with EPA for this use. Permethrin is highly effective as an insecticide and as a repellent. Permethrin-treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes, and other arthropods and retains this effect after repeated laundering. The permethrin insecticide should be reapplied following the label instructions. Some commercial products are available pretreated with permethrin. Permethrin is not to be used directly on skin.

How Often You Should Re-apply Repellents

Follow the directions on the product you are using. Sweating or getting wet may mean that you need to re-apply more frequently.

How the Percentage of Active Ingredient in a Product Relates to Protection Time

In general, the more active ingredient (higher percentage) it has, the longer a repellent will protect you from mosquitoes. For example, DEET products are available in many formulations--something with 30% DEET will protect you longer than one with 5% DEET. You cannot directly compare the percentage of one active ingredient to another, however.

Use your common sense. Re-apply repellent if you start to get bitten and follow the label instructions.

As a "rule of thumb":

For many hours outside (over 3-4 hours) and/or where biting is very intense-look for a repellent containing more than 20% DEET. Products with more than 50% DEET do not offer additional protection.
For shorter periods of time, repellents containing less than 20% DEET, the repellent currently available with 7% picaridin or one of the products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus may provide adequate protection. There are other products available, but they may not protect as long as those named here.
Even if you're going out for 10 minutes use a repellent -that's long enough to get bitten!
Hint: Applying permethrin to your clothing ahead of time will give you even greater protection.

Remember-if you're getting bitten, do something about it!

Choose a repellent that you will use consistently. Also, choose a product that will provide sufficient protection for the amount of time that you will be spending outdoors. Product labels often indicate the length of time that you can expect protection from a product. If you are concerned about using insect repellent, consult your health care provider for advice.

The National Pesticide Information Center

Mosquito Repellents

Burt's Bees Herbal Insect Repellent, 4 fl. oz. spray

Herbal Insect Repellent
A gentle way to tell bugs to buzz off.
How it Works
Our 100% natural blend of bug-fighting oils repels even the most stubborn of pests. Rosemary, Lemongrass, and Citronella oils mix with 5 other oils that bugs hate, creating an all natural solution for keeping them away. Since there's no DEET in this formula, it's safe enough to apply with confidence to children and pets.

How to Use It
Apply liberally to exposed skin, particularly your ankles, legs, arms and hairline before venturing outdoors.

Featured Ingredient
Rosemary Oil - Rosemary is an aromatic shrub with scaly bark and leathery, needle-like leaves yielding a pungent pine-like aroma with a woody, camphor note

Amazon Price: $7.50 (as of 10/16/2008)

SC Johnson #01842 Off! 6OZ Deep Woods

Whether you're hiking with a few friends, camping with loved ones, or just exploring the woods on your own, you can use OFF! Deep Woods® repellents for effective protection against biting insects.

OFF! Deep Woods® repellents provide long-lasting repellency for hiking and camping, especially in heavily wooded areas. They repel disease carrying ticks, mosquitoes, black flies, sand flies, chiggers, fleas, gnats, and no-see-ums. Without the constant bother of insects, outdoor excursions become more enjoyable.

Amazon Price: $3.99 (as of 10/16/2008)

SAWYER® PREMIUM CLOTHING INSECT REPELLENT 24 oz Trigger Spray

Product Description
Not only does this product repel insects, but will actually kill ticks, mosquitoes, chiggers, mites and more than 55 other kinds of insects. Sawyer® Permethrin repellent is for use on your clothing, tents and other gear. A single application lasts through 6 washings. Permethrin is odorless when dry. During the drying process it tightly bonds with the fibers of the treated garment. It will not stain or damage clothing, fabrics, plastics, finished surfaces, or any of your outdoor gear. Try our easy-to-use treatment methods: military-style soak system and the NEW 24 oz trigger spray. These methods provide protection from mosquitoes and ticks through 6 washings. Permethrin clothing treatments, when applied following Directions for Use, have been determined to have "spatial repellency" against mosquitoes. This means that mosquitoes will swarm around you, but not light on your treated clothing and bite. Also use an EPA registered repellent, such as the Sawyer® microencapsulated Controlled Release 20% DEET, on all exposed skin for further protection from biting and blood sucking mosquitoes. The combination of Permethrin on clothing and DEET repellent on skin forms an "Insect Repellent System." When used as directed on the EPA registered labels, the Insect Repellent System will provide the best protection from biting, blood sucking and disease carrying insects. A well known study conducted by Tom Lillie, Carl Schreck and A. J. Rahe in Alaska in 1987, showed 99.9% effectiveness against mosquitoes biting at a rate of more than 1,100/hr. This protection is far greater than either a DEET based insect repellent or Permethrin can achieve alone

Amazon Price: $15.99 (as of 10/16/2008)

Mosquito Repelling Digital Watch with EL Backlight, Ideal for Outdoor, Electronic Repeller by Ultrasonic Sound

Technical Details
Utilizes ultrasonic frequency. Odorless mosquitoes repellent.
Safe. No chemicals. No harm to humans or other animals
Avoid mosquito-borne diseases, such as West Nile virus (WNV), yellow fever and dengue
Range: up to 15 feet radius. Dual power: 3V Lithium cell and solar energy. 30 meters water resistant
Backlight. 12/24 hour mode. Digital chronograph. Daily alarm. Hourly time signal. Calendar

Amazon Price: (as of 10/16/2008)

Peachtree For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))

by Elaine Marmel, Diane Koers

Amazon Price: $16.49 (as of 10/16/2008)

Insect Repellent Links

Off! Insect Repellents: OFF!® personal and area repellents keep pesky insects out of the outdoor activities that you and your family enjoy. To discover the right OFF!® products for you, simply visit this link.