Are Mosquitoes Buzzing You?
By: Dale Mermoud, Master Gardener

Mosquitoes, that annoying buzz as they fly about your head, or the bite and following irritation and itching. With all the rain we’ve had in June mosquitoes are going to be a problem if they are not now a current or past problem.

By understanding a mosquito’s life-cycle is helpful in their control. The most effective control is to prevent and/or eliminate their breeding area by:

• destroying tin cans and/or old tires that hold water,
• inspect water in flower pots weekly, change if necessary,
• change water in bird baths or wading pools weekly,
• stock water gardens with top-feeding minnows,
• keep rain gutters unclogged and free-flowing,
• keep edges of ponds clear of vegetation,
• drain and/or fill puddles, ditches, swampy areas around the home,
• place tight fitting covers on cisterns, septic tanks, fire or rain barrels,
• fill tree cavities with sand and seal with mortar,
• remove tree stumps if they hold water.

Even after following these above mentioned measures may not eliminate your mosquito problem. Keep shrubs and brushes trimmed away from the house. Spray shrubs and shaded areas around the house with carbaryl (Sevin), chlorpyrifos (dursban) or malathion. Read and follow label directions.

Some control can be achieved to the larvae in stagnant water. You can use the above insecticides sprayed on the vegetation or water. There are donut-shaped pellets of an insecticide that will float and release insecticide to kill larvae. You can use vegetable oil to suffocate the larvae. Do not use motor oil or old crank case oil! Do not use any of these products in or adjacent to ponds, water gardens, pools, etc. where fish are present!

Keep mosquitoes from entering your home with tight fitting doors and windows with screens. Reduce light at night both inside and outside the home. Should mosquitoes be a problem then use sprays or aerosol "bombs" containing pyrethrins or pyrethriods. Use as directed on the label.

Repellents are useful to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Various trade names are available and contain the active ingredient DEET (diethyl toluamide). Use extreme caution when applying DEET products, particularly to small children. Read and follow label directions. An alternative to DEET is Avon’s "Skin-So-Soft" has reported some effect in repelling mosquitoes and does not have the DEET restriction of application to the face.

"Bug zappers" have limited use and should be investigated before being used. Tests show the ultra violet light is ineffective in reducing mosquito populations. They may be spectacular in killing mosquitoes but in effect are attracting more mosquitoes to the area than would have been there in the first place.

Outdoor foggers, torches, citronella candles are effective but only have a short-lived use for outdoor activities and only have a small area of control.

In the end it may be common sense and trial-and-error to handle your mosquito problem. Wear bright colored clothing with long sleeves and long trousers. Eliminate and/or reduce your outdoor activities especially at dusk if you are susceptible to mosquito attacks.

See MU Guide G7400, Mosquitoes