By Nancy C. Hinkle
University of
Georgia
The best and cheapest way to control mosquitoes is to prevent
their larvae from developing.
Mosquito larvae can develop only in water, pupating while
they’re
suspended from the surface. Getting rid of places where water
collects, or making these places inhospitable to mosquito
larvae,
can keep you safer from mosquito-borne diseases.
Used tires are significant breeding sites. Tires should be
recycled and properly disposed of to prevent their becoming
mosquito sources. Tire dumps should be reported to county
officials and removed so they don’t become health hazards.
Around the yard
Around the yard, turn any vessel that holds water upside down,
or
remove and recycle it.
Clean out birdbaths weekly and replenish them with fresh water.
This will keep mosquitoes from developing.
To control mosquito breeding, drain or flush the water weekly in
wading pools, roof gutters, flowerpot saucers and other spots
where rain and irrigation water collect.
Trim shrubbery and eliminate tall grass and weeds where adult
mosquitoes hide during the day.
For personal protection
For personal protection:
- Wear light-colored clothing when outside, because dark
colors
attract mosquitoes. - Stay indoors at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are usually
most active. - Wear a repellent containing DEET and treat clothing with a
product such as Permanone mosquito repellent (containing
permethrin). Herbal repellents work for less than 1 hour. - If using citronella candles, orient them so that the breeze
is directing the candle smoke toward you. The smoke is what
repels mosquitoes.
What doesn’t work
Mosquito plants don’t repel mosquitoes. Neither do garlic,
ultrasonic devices or herbal bracelets.
Traps that use light and/or carbon dioxide to lure in and kill
mosquitoes may attract more mosquitoes than they kill. If you
decide to use one of these, consider buying one and giving it to
your neighbor down the street.
For severe infestations, an option is to hire a professional
pest
control company with expertise in mosquito control. Vector
control personnel often treat breeding areas with a low-toxicity
pesticide called Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis). It is
deadly to mosquito larvae, yet harmless to people, pets, fish
and
wildlife.
You can’t see in your rain gutters, so assume there are puddles
trapped up there. Some of the mosquito larvicides listed below
can be tossed onto roofs so they wash down into the gutters and
control mosquito larvae there.
OTC larvicides
Over-the-counter mosquito larvicide products:
- Agnique. The active
ingredient forms a film on the
water
surface that smothers mosquito larvae. You can buy it from
Adapco
through a toll-free number (800-367-0659). - Altosid 30-Day Briquets. The
active ingredient is
methoprene,
an insect growth regulator. You can buy it on-line. - Bactimos Briquets. The active
ingredient is Bti, a
bacterium
specific to mosquitoes. It’s a sustained-release, floating
formulation. - Mosquito Dunks. The active
ingredient is Bti. It’s
available
at hardware, feed-and-seed and garden stores. Each dunk treats
100 square feet of water surface. - Mosquito Bits. These contain
the same product as
Mosquito
Dunks, but in small amounts that can be used for smaller
areas. - Zodiac Preventative Mosquito
Control. The active
ingredient
is methoprene. It’s available at pet stores.
Mosquito fish
Another biological control option is stocking standing water
(ditches, ponds, lily pools, etc.) with mosquito fish (Gambusia).
These small minnows feed on mosquito larvae and reproduce so
they maintain themselves and provide ongoing suppression. These
tiny fish can be ordered on-line (for example, from Ken’s Fish
Farm, toll-free at 877-536-3474).
Mosquito fish can even be used to stock watering troughs. Pools
formed by creeks that are no longer flowing are prime sites for
using mosquito fish.
When using any insecticide, always read and follow label
instructions to protect yourself and the environment. For more
information, call your county Cooperative Extension office.
