Question:
I have some basic questions about mosquito control. I am an amateur
astronomer and need to be able to go outdoors and use my telescope.
I'm allergic to mosquito repellents, at least if used in the
large quantities that seem to be necessary, so I want to kill the
bugs or drive them away rather than dousing myself in "Off."
Presently, there is no standing water in my yard except a turtle pond
which contains hundreds of Gambusia (mosquitofish). It does not have
any nooks or crannies that the fish can't get to. Am I right in
assuming that mosquitoes will not be able to breed there?
There are also bats, treefrogs, and mosquito-eating lizards (Anolis
carolinensis).
Every month or so, I spray Sevin solution into the gutters and
downspouts (where water sometimes accumulates) and on the grass and
all the shrubbery. This seems to help a bit, but it doesn't seem to
be a complete solution.
There's some chance the mosquitoes are breeding in a neighbor's yard
somewhere. Being on top of a hill, I'm at least 300 feet from the
nearest creek, and it's not a big one.
My questions:
(1) Should I be using a different insecticide? A higher concentration
of Sevin? Instructions are vague and I've been using about 1 fluid
ounce of concentrate per gallon. Should I rotate different insecticides
on the theory that the mosquitoes may have become resistant?
(2) Would a bug zapper help? How about a fogger? Other techniques?
(3) Where do mosquitoes hide? Am I right in thinking they hide in
bushes and grass?
(4) How far do mosquitoes fly? That is, how large an area do I need
to be concerned with?
(5) I'm not allergic to mothballs -- someone once suggested using them
to repel mosquitoes from the area. Do they work?
Using a citronella candle is not an option because I'm using a telescope,
and the air above a candle is far too turbulent.
Answer:
Rather than using the Sevin, investigate some of the agents used by
professional mosquito control people. These are generally oils that
spread on water and other agents that interrupt the larvae cycle. They
are much less harmful to other insect and animal life.
