Walked out front last night - made an unexpected pint of blood donation - first serious mosquitoes of this year. Guess we've been living on borrowed time. My guess is they moved out of the salt marshes and have headed inland (beware CRG!). Went out this morning and got revenge and relief, at least for a while. If you have regular and serious mosquito problems and you have an Echo Leaf Blower (has to be the right model), you may want one of these (http://www.echo-usa.com/yardshield/). I'm on my second year with the thing and it's the best solution I have found after 15 years on the Gulf Coast.
That pretty Kewl! Got my first "bites" yesterday - myself. With all the rain (Most in our history) this month, I expect to be carried away to never-never land by the end of the month.
Don't have too much of a problem out here with them, but I sure do remember back in Chicago. Felt like a pin cusion. Pretty cool invention they made there with that blower.
Surprisingly not a single one here yet.
Got them but they haven't been real hungry just yet.
Safety concerns are listed at the MSDS link and include avoiding breathing vapors or mist of the product, not getting it onto your skin or clothing etc. and yet the picture of the woman using the application doesn't show her using any protection whatsoever.
I'm hesitant to go around spraying chemicals into the air which will kill not only mosquitoes but any flying or crawling insects. Sort of a scorched earth policy.
Luckily we don't have serious mosquito problems up here in BC. and I usually get by with some Bug-off type product.
Quote from: slamdunk on May 24, 2010, 10:48:35 AM
Safety concerns are listed at the MSDS link and include avoiding breathing vapors or mist of the product, not getting it onto your skin or clothing etc. and yet the picture of the woman using the application doesn't show her using any protection whatsoever.
I'm hesitant to go around spraying chemicals into the air which will kill not only mosquitoes but any flying or crawling insects. Sort of a scorched earth policy.
Luckily we don't have serious mosquito problems up here in BC. and I usually get by with some Bug-off type product.
That's a good and healthy concern. Just FYI - the MSDS is for the concentrate. In use it is diluted nearly 200-fold (1.25 oz in 1.5 gal water). At that concentration it doesn't seem to get much of anything else (I've tried and it doesn't even take out flies) - mosquitoes are very easy to kill and require only very low levels of permethrin, which is about the safest you can come up with. By limiting application to when and where needed you avoid the broad spectrum and broad range carryover. For comparison Raid House & Garden has about the same warning, and is much more potent.
Down here they're a real problem - we've had confirmed West Nile cases in the immediate area.
Permethrin is an item I used in the 80's doing pest control. It last only a few minutes and is gone. AT 3% you must wear a full face respirator mask.
(http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/300/bc/bc98a2c4-2665-4557-b2c5-8d590afb3018_300.jpg)
In the diluted mix it's 0.06% -- pretty dilute.
Haven't been a problem, Yet!
hal4uk did a post the otherday of using vanilla to keep mosquitos away!
My Great Grandpa would eat a whole onion every day like you would eat an apple. Claimed it kept the mosquitoes away, don't like onions enough to find out if it works though. That and I figure it might keep people away too.
Quote from: Sorce on May 24, 2010, 02:48:26 PM
My Great Grandpa would eat a whole onion every day like you would eat an apple. Claimed it kept the mosquitoes away, don't like onions enough to find out if it works though. That and I figure it might keep people away too.
Maybe we can get Tiny Tim to try it.
:D :D
We used to take sulfur pills to keep the red bugs and mosquitos away. They suck. The pills AND the red bugs and mosquitos!
Quote from: FLBentRider on May 24, 2010, 03:46:54 PM
Quote from: Sorce on May 24, 2010, 02:48:26 PM
My Great Grandpa would eat a whole onion every day like you would eat an apple. Claimed it kept the mosquitoes away, don't like onions enough to find out if it works though. That and I figure it might keep people away too.
Maybe we can get Tiny Tim to try it.
:D :D
Hey now, I never made a threat on your life.................... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Quote from: Tiny Tim on May 24, 2010, 04:26:42 PM
Quote from: FLBentRider on May 24, 2010, 03:46:54 PM
Quote from: Sorce on May 24, 2010, 02:48:26 PM
My Great Grandpa would eat a whole onion every day like you would eat an apple. Claimed it kept the mosquitoes away, don't like onions enough to find out if it works though. That and I figure it might keep people away too.
Maybe we can get Tiny Tim to try it.
:D :D
Hey now, I never made a threat on your life.................... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
LOL. I kinda feel the same way about bell peppers - and they don't like me either.
Quote from: classicrockgriller on May 24, 2010, 02:44:56 PM
Haven't been a problem, Yet!
hal4uk did a post the otherday of using vanilla to keep mosquitos away!
Vanilla was to repel Buffalo Gnats....
This will bring back some memories for DTAggie. Just to show how much of a deal those little blood sucking vermin are down here, this is an annual local event. Of course there is the annual crowning of Miss Quito, but there is also a BBQ cook-off.
http://www.mosquitofestival.com/
Don't know yet (might try it) if Vanilla extract will ward off the mosquitoes...
But one sure-fire way to thin them out is to make sure there is NO STANDING WATER anywhere near your outdoor activities.
That said, I was cookin' out one time at some park by Lake Ponchatrain...
We're were havin' a big time... When all of sudden... We heard this strange buzzing.
Grew to a steady roar... Then like a freight train...
But we couldn't see anything -- in any direction...
We were TOTALLY freaked...
Then they hit us.
Strange how one mosquitoe makes no sound at all. Go figger.
Quote from: squirtthecat on May 24, 2010, 04:53:51 PM
Quote from: classicrockgriller on May 24, 2010, 02:44:56 PM
Haven't been a problem, Yet!
hal4uk did a post the otherday of using vanilla to keep mosquitos away!
I thought that was just another name for mesquitos, like Boston Butts/Pork Shoulder. ;D
Vanilla was to repel Buffalo Gnats....