SOURCE REDUCTION
The most effective way to control mosquitoes is to find and eliminate their breeding sites. The following are some steps to prevent mosquito breeding on your property:
• Destroy or dispose tin cans, buckets, old tires, old barrels, cans, unused plastic swimming pools and any other containers that may hold or collect water. Water collecting in flowerpot saucers, cemetery urns, pet dishes, etc. for more than 2 days can ultimately start breeding mosquitoes.
• Clean all debris from rain gutters and remove any standing water under or around structures, or on flat roofs. Repair any leaks on faucets or air conditioning units that may be forming puddles.
• At least once a week, change the water in birdbaths and wading pools. Stock ornamental pools with top feeding predacious minnows. Known as the mosquito fish, minnows are about 1- 1 1/2 inches in length and can be purchased or native fish can be seined from streams and creeks locally. Commercial products "Mosquito Dunks" and "Mosquito Bits" containing Bti can be found and purchased at hardware/garden stores for homeowner use.
• Fill or drain any puddles, ditches and swampy areas and either drain, remove or fill tree holes and stumps with mortar. These areas can be treated with the Bti products or methoprene as well.
• Eliminate any seepage from cesspools, cisterns, and septic tanks.
• Eliminate any standing water around animal watering troughs. Flush any livestock water troughs at least twice a week!
• Plastic or canvas tarps used to cover boats, pools, etc. need to be checked, arrange tarps so they drain the water off.
• Construction sites or do-it-yourself improvements need to be checked and ensure proper backfilling and grading to prevent any drainage problems.
• Irrigate gardens and lawns to prevent standing water for several days.
• Any ditches that do not flow and contain stagnant water for a week or longer can produce large numbers of mosquitoes. These areas need to be reported to Cass County Vector Control. Do not attempt to clear the ditch areas because they may be protected by wetland regulation. The list above is only a few of the many sources that are prime breeding sites. There are other sources to elimate of course, so remember that anything that can hold water for a couple days can breed mosquitoes. Mosquitoes need water to survive!
REPELLENTS
Repellents are substances that prevent a mosquito from biting people. Repellents are sold as aerosols, creams, solids (sticks) and liquids. Use repellents containing ingredients such as diethyl phthalate, diethyl carbate, N, N-Diethyl-3-Methylbenzamide (DEET), and ethyl hexanediol. For more than 40 years, DEET has been the standard in mosquito repellents. Permethrin containing repellents (Permanone) are recommended for any use on clothing, bednets and camping gear. Permethrin treated clothing repels and kills ticks, mosquitoes and other arthropods and retains this effect even after repeated laundering. However, permethrin repellents do not offer any protection from mosquitoes when applied to the skin. Protection generally may be expected up to 6 hours following application. Homeowners, ranchers or businesses may use hand-held ULV foggers, portable or fogging attachments for tractors or lawn mowers for temporary relief of adult mosquitoes. 5% malathion and pyrethrins can be fogged outdoors. Follow directions for appropriate application procedure. Mosquitoes can be kept out of the home by keeping windows, doors, and porch screens tight. A swatter or an aerosol space spray containing synergized pyrethrum can be used indoors if necessary. We have taken these measures in society because there is no documented evidence or studies that showed bats, purple martins, or other predators consume enough adult mosquitoes to be an effective control agent. |
