Mosquitos!!!

[atmsmshr]

We live in Florida, on an island, next to conserved land. Biting insects can be a real problem.

For years, our solution has been to eliminate standing water and use a 'Mosquito Magnet'. About $300/stand - lasts for 3-4 years. A slow heat/burn of propane (lasts 3 weeks at $14/refill) emits CO2. Counter-rotating electric fans puts out the gas, the biting insects fly to the horn and get sucked into a net where they desiccate. Works on biting flies, mosquitos and no-seums (known as invisible flying teeth in FL) Collapses biting insect populations in about 4 weeks.

[imoldernu]

Re: Mosquito bites.

In an above post, I linked mosquito bite video... It was the wrong one. Try this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rD8SmacBUcU

[H2ODude]

I have your solution! I'll ask the colony of bats I just discovered in my attic to relocate to your place!

Well, actually there's a guy coming this afternoon to give me an estimate for getting them out. I doubt they'd relocate voluntarily! We were gone for a week and in that time an abundance of guano showed up on driveway below a high vent that no doubt has deteriorated screen. Looking at over a $1,000. Unfortunately the attic space they've taken residence in is totally inaccessible except via that vent.

[Nemo2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2ODude I have your solution! I'll ask the colony of bats I just discovered in my attic to relocate to your place! Well, actually there's a guy coming this afternoon to give me an estimate for getting them out. I doubt they'd relocate voluntarily! We were gone for a week and in that time an abundance of guano showed up on driveway below a high vent that no doubt has deteriorated screen. Looking at over a $1,000. Unfortunately the attic space they've taken residence in is totally inaccessible except via that vent.

Is it possible to install some kind of funnel that permits egress but does not permit access? If so, when they're gone they 'should be' gone.

[H2ODude]

Yes, that's what they'll do. it doesn't appear they penetrated the screen and are living in the louvres. I could do it but it's at the end of my extension ladder and I've sworn off reaching that high. Plus, they'll treat for mites and other nastiness they can bring that I just don't want to mess with. This conforms with my goal of taking fewer risks as I age over saving money.

I am tempted to place a bat box in a tree out back by our lake but DW does NOT approve. Oh well.

[audreyh1]

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2ODude I have your solution! I'll ask the colony of bats I just discovered in my attic to relocate to your place! Well, actually there's a guy coming this afternoon to give me an estimate for getting them out. I doubt they'd relocate voluntarily! We were gone for a week and in that time an abundance of guano showed up on driveway below a high vent that no doubt has deteriorated screen. Looking at over a $1,000. Unfortunately the attic space they've taken residence in is totally inaccessible except via that vent.

Most bat colonies are summer colonies.

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by H2ODude Yes, that's what they'll do. it doesn't appear they penetrated the screen and are living in the louvres. I could do it but it's at the end of my extension ladder and I've sworn off reaching that high. Plus, they'll treat for mites and other nastiness they can bring that I just don't want to mess with. This conforms with my goal of taking fewer risks as I age over saving money. I am tempted to place a bat box in a tree out back by our lake but DW does NOT approve. Oh well.

Pretty expensive for such a simple job, did you get other quotes ?

I'd be pretty tempted to wait until late evening after they fly out, and then spray the vents with something to make them not want to live there. Either wasp killer (it sprays 15 ft) or coyote piss in a spray bottle (used in gardening to protect flowers from deer).

The issue of mites, fleas etc is nothing as you are not going to be handling them and those insects are outside and will die off without the bats there.

Wear rubber gloves if you do ever touch a bat as they can carry rabies and fleas.

[H2ODude]

I didn't bother with other quotes as the description of what would be done was extensive (fogging attic and spraying, as well as blocking several other suspect entries). I'll admit it's not cheap, but was impressed with the guy. If you research "bat bugs" on wikipedia they aren't benign and can well enter the attic through the screen from an infestation. Highly likely? Probably not. Just want it done completely without any problems.

[Sunset]

well that is interesting about "bat bugs".

Since they are so similar to bed bugs, the temperature of 120F or higher probably kills them off (if they were in an attic), but spraying the poison (fogging) would certainly help ease the mind.

[walkinwood]

For those who have used permethrin to treat clothes.

How well does it work to prevent mosquito bites? Do you still have to use a deet based repellant on your skin?

[braumeister]

Quote:

Originally Posted by walkinwood For those who have used permethrin to treat clothes. How well does it work to prevent mosquito bites? Do you still have to use a deet based repellant on your skin?

I still use DEET on my skin for mosquitos.

The permethrin treatment on clothing is to keep ticks away. That's a much bigger fear for me due to the growing threat of Lyme disease. If you do any hiking in the woods, I consider it essential.

[audreyh1]

Permethrin on clothes keeps mosquitos from biting through the clothes.

[walkinwood]

Thanks. While hiking/camping in the Rockies, ticks aren't an issue, but mosquitoes sometimes are. I haven't been bitten through clothes yet, so I think I'll pass on the permethrin. I don't have an issue with DEET - just thought it would be less of an inconvenience to treat the clothes once every couple of months.

Thanks for the feedback.

[imoldernu]

While the coming election has kept the media busy, some "news" has ended up on page 2. This article about Zika in Puerto Rico is very scary. If the numbers are correct, this could easily surpass the older scares about HIV, the Mad Cow Disease, and the Bird Flu...
Definitely a heads up...

CDC: Zika could affect 10,000 pregnancies in Puerto Rico by year's end