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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 10:11 am
Here's a thread to continue the mosquito discussion. I'm interested in any type of gadget that will keep the pests away. How do they work? Do they make noise? Do they smell? Can they be around small children? We have a big west nile problem here so avoiding bites is a huge concern.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 1:52 pm
My first suggestion is to do as much as you can naturally. Around here we are blessed with having bats to help keep the population down. Encouraging mosquito eating insects (such as praying mantis, walking sticks, spiders), lizards, frogs, toads, and garden snakes is another good solution. Now before you go Ewwwwww, I should tell you that my next door neighbor was intent on killing every crawly thing in her yard until she found that they live there for a good reason. She has now named the tree lizards that frequently skitter across her veranda. The most important thing you should do is get rid of (or repair) anything that encourages an environment where mosquitoes lay their eggs. I mean such as puddles of dormant water in old tires, cans, clogged gutters, anything that holds water. Also cut back foliage that is unnecessary. My yard does not have a lot of bushes and trees and we have a small mosquito population, where a friend of mine has lots of foliage and lots of mosquitoes. There are probably lots of man-made devices that help too. Bug zappers, citronella candles (however you can grow citronella plants that work better) and Deep woods Off spray are a few.
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Cassie
Member
07-15-2000
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 2:12 pm
That Deep Woods Off spray melts my nail polish Urgrace, and then the mosquitoes still bite me. <sigh> They just love me like you wouldn't believe.
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 2:18 pm
My problem is there is swamp land not too far behind my house (behind forested area). Allegedly the town treats it, but when I complained once--after finding several dead birds at peak West Nile season 2 years ago--they said that not all areas are treated and I could never get a clear answer from them. But I've never seen it this horrid this early. We have TONS of spiders here so that does't seem to be helping. I emptied out a bucket of water the women who owned this place before me had (why I couldn't tell you). Citronella candles and sticks help a little but not enough to not get bitten. And like I said I HATE the sound of the Zappers and mini-electrocutions lol. That's why I was wondering if any of these are quiet. Last year I did buy this little stick that allegedly makes a high pitched sound that keeps them away. Didn't do a darned thing. Put on a citronella bracelet for the July 4th fireworks (an annual mosquito buffet situation here). Must say that stunk but helped. But I sure would love some better solutions. I finally have a yard and patio and find I almost always use the 3 season porch because it's so brutal outside, and I'd LOVE to be able to sit outdoors. I spent more time outside with my plants when I lived in downtown Boston and had a balcony. That's just wrong! FYI I am sitting here scratching the HUGE welt I have from yesterday afternoon's bites as I type this. I am one of those lucky folks who don't get just little bites but huge welt size bites.
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 2:31 pm
I was looking at the home depot web page and found those co2 things -- wow are they expensive! Plus I don't need 1 acre coverage, just enough for my yard. I guess I'll be buying those "off" things you burn, more of those bracelets, and more bug spray. Ugh. I did order 2 of those vibrating frog things from onestepahead.com Will see how those work. I managed to get by last year w/out a single bite because this west nile thing freaks me out. But my daughter is older now and wants to play outside so I'm not going to get off so easily.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 3:23 pm
<didn't get in on the beginning of this conversation apparently> The mosquitoes love to bite me too. They don't bite my dh. I drink and eat more 'sweet' foods while he tends to like spicy or 'sour' foods and drinks beer. What you eat makes a big difference! And make sure you are not wearing any fragrance - no perfume, cologne, hair spray with scent, even fingernail polish has a sweet smell. Wearing lotions other than mosquito repellent will attract the little biters. Living near stagnant water is the last thing I would want to do. Sadly the things they have to use to spray swampy areas can affect the bird population. If you dump the water on the ground that mosquitoes have eggs in, the eggs will lie dormant until moistenend again, like when it rains. Dump it in the toilet or bury it with some dirt.
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 3:34 pm
Just remembered two things, *Mosquitoes don't like baby oil! *carry a dryer sheet in your pocket (you can rub it on your clothes too) to deter them
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Brenda1966
Member
07-03-2002
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 3:42 pm
Can it be a used drier sheet? The smell of a new one would probably choke me!
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 3:51 pm
Guess so, but it would probably do more good as a new sheet. Here's something I found very interesting and useful. It debunks zappers, candles, and sprays (You'll have to copy it since I don't do links) Mosquito Cognito and Mosquito facts: answers to your mosquito questions Address:http://www.mosquitosolutions.com/mosquito_facts.html .
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Lurknomore
Member
07-07-2001
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 5:08 pm
Interesting....except now I feel DOOMED lol. And glad THEY consider 600 bucks economical hehe. (and your linked worked fine! Thanks)
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Urgrace
Member
08-19-2000
| Friday, May 28, 2004 - 7:08 pm
Wow how did I do that? LOL That Mosquito Cognito wasn't quite so expensive. Hey maybe it would cost less to cover your yard in mosquito netting? <Sorry, just kidding> Those nasty little buggers are just mean and have always carried bad illnesses. I've never wanted to live too near any water since I was a child. We were living across the street from a lake, but it was spring fed and moved, not like the pond behind us that just sat there creating swarms of jet-bomber-mosquitoes.
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Zachsmom
Member
07-13-2000
| Saturday, May 29, 2004 - 10:09 pm
I don't know if it will work with mosquitos, but vitiman B's help repell flea bites. fleas don't like to smell of your blood when it has a healthy does of b's.
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Ddr
Member
08-19-2001
| Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 3:59 am
The mosquito is sometimes referred to as the state bird of Louisiana . I've tried them all and the one product that I wholeheartedly endorse is Mosquito Beater. It comes in granual or spray applications. We've used it for about 3 years now and it's great.

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Kristylovesbb
Member
09-14-2000
| Sunday, May 30, 2004 - 9:06 am
I built a small fish pond with a waterfall in the natural garden in my front yard plus we put two rain barrels out, both of which drew mosquitoes. To solve the problem we purchased about 10 guppies and placed three in each rain barrel and 4 in the pond. These guppies consumed all the mosquito larva and solved our problem. I wonder if you couldn't put them in a creek or swamp. They multiply like crazy in just a few weeks.
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Vsmart
Member
02-10-2003
| Monday, May 31, 2004 - 8:51 am
Instead of chemicals, why not wear loose netting. www.leevalley.com (mostly gardening tools & books) Jacket including hood $25 & pants $20.
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Fruitbat
Member
08-07-2000
| Monday, May 31, 2004 - 10:49 am
I will try Vitamin B. We already have a small garden pond with frogs, plenty of snakes, lizzards and bats too. I will even wear dryer sheets. You would think they would act like perfume though.
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 4:46 am
Ddr do you use the granual or the kind you hook to the garden hose and spray on. I need to do something, with all the rain and a few nice days I can no longer go out in my yard without getting attacked in swarms by those pesty little bugs. I was outside yesterday for about 10 minutes at 4pm and they were totally nuts. I tried bug spray but that just seemed to attract them even more. At about 9 PM they were even worse, the dogs didn't even want to be outside they were so bad. It doesn't help that I have an empty feild filled with tall grass and trees next to me. I'm thinking of using the spray so I can venture out into the field and eliminate some of them, I think it would be quicker than trying to spread granulars throughout the trees. I haven't seen any of that brand in any of my local stores but I have seen it on line.
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Ddr
Member
08-19-2001
| Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 5:18 am
Jagger, I use the granual. Everybody here swears by it. Hope it helps!
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Jagger
Member
08-07-2002
| Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 8:25 am
I ordered both the granual and the spray, I'll probably use the spay in the field and the granual on my yard. Do you need to keep the pets off of it for any length of time after applying it? I've read it has no poisions in it to harm anything. Wonder if it would work in the vegtable garden.
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Yankee_in_ca
Member
08-01-2000
| Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 10:25 pm
When I lived in DC, my big problem was mosquitos. Now that I'm in BC, it's aphids. Yuck! I hate aphids. I bought 500 ladybugs today and I'm gonna set 'em free soon...
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 2:47 pm
In my herbology class today, I asked about mosquitos. I was told to try eucalyptus and/or lavender. My instructor said either the essence oil or plants should work.
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 1:41 pm
I live in Mosquito capital USA. IN the middle of rice fields and orchards. Standing water all summer. I hate it and I am ready to move, but I don't see that happening. We usually call the local mosquito abatement district to come spray. They do it for free and most counties have this service, but a lot of people don't know about it. It does some good. We have mosquitos out there the size of your thumbnail. Sometimes the fly swatter won't kill them, and they eat DD alive. I don't like putting cutter or off or skintastic all over her, she is only 11 months old. In another thread, they said keep a dryer sheet in your pocket, I am going to try this. If I had the money, I would get a Mosquito Magnet. they are like $250. I was outside for 5 minutes last night, watering my flowers, and I got bit 21 times. I counted. They get in the house and buzz in my ear. They bite my feet, I hate that.
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 2:16 pm
There is also a Natural repellant that you find in the health food store....I have one...will check on it later and let you know the brand. It is safe to use on small children too.
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 3:45 pm
The repellant is called Burt's Bees Here is the website about the product: http://www.forever-natural.com/n4-13.asp (NOTE: this is a Canadian site..so prices are in Canadian Dollars)
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Cassie
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 12:30 pm
Does this work well, Smootz?
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 5:26 pm
I think it worked reasonably well Cassie...it is like any of these products...some work well for some others don't. I haven't used it this year..but I have been avoiding the mosquitos around the house at the time they come out and the other I am at baseball and I use a bounce sheet in my pocket and in my ball bag...however I have had about 10 bites or so this year. I like the product because you can put it on young children...my kids are rarely out at dusk (they are in their beds (hopefully sleeping )
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Cassie
Member
07-15-2000
| Tuesday, July 13, 2004 - 5:43 pm
Thanks for that info, Skootz (sorry for misspelling your name before). I'll pass it onto my neighbor who has a 4-yr old grandson and the skeeters just love him.
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Kappy
Member
06-29-2002
| Saturday, January 15, 2005 - 1:08 pm
Wow - some good info here! Thanks, everyone! Right now, it's the rains that bring the buggers indoors where I am. They're all over the front door just waiting for me to open it. I sprayed Ortho's Mosquito-B-Gon on the door and it works for a month or so keeping them away As for summer, I've always wanted to plant lemon grass around the front door as I read once that it will help with repelling mosquitos. But I like the idea of planting lavender as well. I grudgingly accept the fact that they're outside but absolutely hate it when they're inside. I swear I can hear them across the room while I'm trying to sleep.
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