Question:
I live in NC and in the last several years the invasion of this species
of mosquito has rendered my backyard essentially useless during a large
part of the year. I am considering whether to make what is for me a
fairly sizeable investment in a device that purports to decimate
breeding populations of mosquitoes in an area of about an acre by
generating from a propane tank a steady stream of CO2 over a period of
weeks, and then trapping the females that are drawn to it.
While most of what I have read about the working premise of this device
is from the vendor, I have been able to confirm at least the
plausibility of it from outside sources. One point is bothering me,
however, and I cannot find an answer: Generally speaking, how far will
individuals of this species range from their hatching site? I have
encountered contradictory statements about mosquitoes in general, some
saying they do not travel more than approx. 100 yards from where they
were hatched, while others say they may wander for miles.
Perhaps it depends on the species, and if so, can anyone tell me the
facts for aedes albopictus? Because it seems to me that if individuals
can migrate from relatively great distances, all I will accomplish with
this device is to replace my resident mosquitoes with those from further
away...
Anybody have any personal experience with using this kind of trap
for localized mosquito control?
Answer:
Before you invest in a high-tech approach, you might consider using nature
to your advantage. Consider erecting a bat house. It is essentially a
condominium for bats, with each bat feeding on huge quantities of
mosquitoes at no cost to you. If you are interested, I can point you to
some easy-to-build directions. What's even nicer is that the bats will find
the home themselves - no investment.
