New Englanders: Mosquitoes

[cerebusPu]

for inside the house you can get a cheap bug zapper cage that uses light to attract the mosquitos to electrified bars. i keep it on in the evening to attract any stray bugs that come in.

for outside, i would recommend either DEET or one of those portable chemical dispensers. OFF makes a battery powered Clip on, and thermacell makes a butane powered one. the thermacell works better but it cant be clipped on and has to be placed a certain way.

 

[Krynj]

Really depends on where you live. Wooded area? Live near water? Gets better or worse depending on where you live.

I'm in the Bangor area, and I wouldn't say they're that bad here. And I barely ever notice any in my apartment.

When they do get bad though, just gotta tough it out the old fashion way -- bug spray.

 

[Lemon law]

First of all, the increase in Mosquito numbers has nothing to do with global warming, they can drive you nuts well up into Alaska. They thrive where ever there is adequate rain, poorly drained swampy areas, and temperatures above freezing. I definitely know, I own some property in Northern Minnesota where the Mosquito is the State bird, they are always bad in the spring as brood #1 is fueled by the melt water of snow combined with poor drainage. But if there is a subsequent fairly dry late spring and early summer, brood #2 is going to be small, and if the later summer still stays fairly dry, brood #3 will also be small.

But cheer up, I can still remember August 1976 in St. Louis County MN, it rained every day but two, still there were two whole days, widely separated, where blue skies prevailed. I have never in my whole life seen such a verdant green in all the low lying areas.

 

[metalfacepc]

Mosquitoes are the worst. Repellent is probably your best option, these critters are incessant

 

[JulesMaximus]

So glad I live in San Diego.

 

[Apple Of Sodom]

Mosquito Magnet (or other brand.( I bought one a few years back for around $300. It is the propane kind with a fan for sucking them in, a tac strip for them to stick to, and a place to put the scent stuff. Anyhow, I kept telling myself it would be a waste of money but broke down and bought one.

I would pay ten times the price I did for the peace it has brought. I put it out in the spring just as the little motherfuckers start looking for food. I use about $50 worth of consumables a season to be mosquito free. My land is around 3 acres and unless you wander into the woods it is mosquito free.

 

[kage69]

Maine is a terrible place for skeeters and this is a terrible year for skeeters, so it's doubly bad. A bat house or several would help. Other than that the usual, eliminate standing water, DEET everywhere, zappers, etc. You have to just accept that they have you outnumbered about 200 bajillion to one and they're gonna get you no matter what. If you're new to Maine and are complaining about the mosquitoes you must have missed black fly season. When they're bad they'll make you wish for mosquitoes instead. Nastiest critters on earth.

Excellent post, with emphatic agreement on bolded portion. I don't care if they pollinate billions of blueberries, black flies suck ass!

It's the price we pay for living where there are streams, rivers, lakes - everywhere!!

Through experience and some planning, I was able to make this current bug season no big deal at all.

I put mosquito dunks in every body of standing water within 1000yds of my place. The structures on the property have Mosquito Barrier sprayed all around them (about a 40ft perimeter) with emphasis placed on walkways and anywhere where people chill outside. I also installed an 80w Flotron zapper between the sprayed areas and my front field, where I believe the lower elevation and tall grasses really make for bug central.

So far this has been one of the more enjoyable summers to be outside, even my bug-o-phobe wife thinks so I guess I'm doing something right. I don't worry about the few that get inside the house, they're easy enough to chase down and smash.


Do a search for mosquitos here, we had a thread about it not too long ago...

 

[kage69]

Bens 100.

lol, that stuff is hardcore. I've been on a few fishing trips where that was the only thing that kept everyone from going insane. Problem is they'll start homing in on places you can't apply it (mouth, eyes)
Don't want to think about what it does to the kidneys. I now carry a BugBaffler in my truck for days like that, which thankfully only really occur in the spring.

For those who don't know, a Bugbaffler is a fine mesh jacket that has a hood that zips down all the way in front of your collar area. Wear a hat underneath and it's like you're walking around in your own mosquito tent! They also give you a bit of camo, easier to sneak up on trout holes wearing one in my experience...

 

[kage69]

JHC, we went to Maine (Sebasco Harbor) a couple of July's ago. i was almost eaten alive! i know bugs, but was completely unprepared for the carnivores that inhabit coastal maine.

lol, you sound like my father in law. He's an Okie that has been living in Southern Alabama for the last 10yrs or so. Last trip up here he was spitting mad the whole time as even his cigars weren't keeping the bugs away, something that usually works at home. Before he left he told me he thought that between the bugs and the winters, Mainiacs should get medals for living here.

Which made me laugh, as the last time I was at his house his garden, lawn and deck area had black widow spiders all over the place.

 

[moshquerade]

So glad I live in San Diego.

you love the traffic, don't you?

 

[highland145]

I put mosquito dunks in every body of standing water within 1000yds of my place. The structures on the property have Mosquito Barrier sprayed all around them (about a 40ft perimeter) with emphasis placed on walkways and anywhere where people chill outside. I also installed an 80w Flotron zapper between the sprayed areas and my front field, where I believe the lower elevation and tall grasses really make for bug central.

So far this has been one of the more enjoyable summers to be outside, even my bug-o-phobe wife thinks so I guess I'm doing something right. I don't worry about the few that get inside the house, they're easy enough to chase down and smash.


Do a search for mosquitos here, we had a thread about it not too long ago...

Mosquito Barrier didn't do the trick for me in S.C. 2 treatments per instructions within a week of each other. Even in my shop. But that was the only thing I did other that make sure there was no standing water. Oh, well. It was worth a try.

 

[kage69]

Mosquito Barrier didn't do the trick for me in S.C. 2 treatments per instructions within a week of each other. Even in my shop. But that was the only thing I did other that make sure there was no standing water. Oh, well. It was worth a try.

Damn! Sorry to hear that. What ratio were you using? Did you use the oil and detergent mix, or was it straight solution and water? The best results I've had with it was 5oz of MB in one gallon of water, no oil, no soap. I guess you're supposed to use the oil and soap if there is standing water anywhere...

It worked great for me, very few skeeters, but the complete disappearance of ticks was pretty impressive. They even fled from areas near where I sprayed, after the first application I spent a couple days outside working on brush and trees, never got a single one on me.

 

[KGB]

So glad I live in San Diego.

We are too.

 

[highland145]

Damn! Sorry to hear that. What ratio were you using? Did you use the oil and detergent mix, or was it straight solution and water? The best results I've had with it was 5oz of MB in one gallon of water, no oil, no soap. I guess you're supposed to use the oil and soap if there is standing water anywhere...

It worked great for me, very few skeeters, but the complete disappearance of ticks was pretty impressive. They even fled from areas near where I sprayed, after the first application I spent a couple days outside working on brush and trees, never got a single one on me.

Was about 3 months ago, iirc. 1st followed the directions, 2nd doubled the MB with the oil. Figured the oil would help trap the larva.

Not a big deal. The lack of rain in July wacked them pretty good.

May give it a go again, stronger.

 

[preCRT]

Don't want to think about what it does to the kidneys. I now carry a BugBaffler in my truck for days like that, which thankfully only really occur in the spring.

For those who don't know, a Bugbaffler is a fine mesh jacket that has a hood that zips down all the way in front of your collar area. Wear a hat underneath and it's like you're walking around in your own mosquito tent! They also give you a bit of camo, easier to sneak up on trout holes wearing one in my experience...

BugBafflers work well as long as they are nice & very loose. You really want it to swim around you, never to touch your skin or the bastards will bite you thru the mesh. It's the only way I can get anything done outside during black fly season.

There are several different manufacturers, I've got a 2 piece suit of a long sleeve pullover top with attached hood and pullup long pants that cover ankle to waist. Even though you'd think there would be air flow, they are hot as hell to wear in the sun even just wearing a tank & shorts underneath.

 

[sjwaste]

Wow, some serious activity in this thread, thanks for the info everyone.

We're renting now, but when we get around to finding and buying a house, I will be using many of the methods mentioned here - especially the mosquito barrier. We don't have standing water anywhere around the rental property, but the house does back out to a wooded lot.

I went out to get the mail and whacked two of the suckers just as they landed on me. No fresh bites today! I let one in the house, but I stalked that MFer and got him good.

I'm getting better at this. So far, the mosquitoes are the only downside of living here, so I can deal with that just fine. Compared to the DC area, summer has been absolutely gorgeous.

I'm out in the Saco area, fairly close to the ocean. We were really considering the Kennebunks, but we'll probably buy in Saco. More of a community feel, and a lot of great people in this town.

 

[Schadenfroh]

Light up one of these, keeps them and other insects away: