Question:
I'm looking for ideas for controlling my massive mosquito population,
preferably without spraying chemicals. I have no standing water, but I'm
in zone 8, and have massive amounts of shade and lots of ivy. We've been
in a bit of a drought lately, but I've been watering regularly and it seems
like every mosquito in the neighborhood has moved over here. I'm planning
to put up some bat houses, but there must be other ideas out there.
Companion plants? Animal-safe sprays I can make up here at home?
Answer:
- Bats and swallows will eat an remarkable number of insects. The swallows
get them during the day, and the bats at night.
I have also heard of an electric mosquito catcher. It emits CO2 and a bit
of heat.
-Mosquitoes require standing water to breed, so there must be some near
your house somewhere. They don't need much, an old tire with some water
in it will do. I don't know how far they will fly from the standing
water, but they are fairly proficient fliers, so I wouldn't be surprised
to find they will go a mile or more.
If you can't control the source you will have to be satisfied with
treating the symptoms.
-According to the problem solver guide at
http://www.usit.net/hp/bionet/pestList.html#M your best bet may be Bt
israeliensis, a variety of BT. This will only work if they are actually
breeding on your property, with the dense cover that ivy may provide
that's possible. As others have mentioned they can fly some distance so
the problem may not be in an area you can control.
Use your judgment, if you need more info or if I've been unclear in some
way please drop a note in mail AND to the website. Others may be able
to help, and I'll certainly read your message in either case, though for
a post only it may take a day or two since I'm involved in a thing or
two elsewhere at the moment.
