Tis says it uses garlic to keep them away, has anyone used this or know anything about garlic or this stuff? we had such a warm winter that we have some mosquitos now.
https://www.mosquitobarrier.com/?gclid=C ... fgodySIASQ
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puzzlejunky
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webmaster
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I don't know what the mosquito situation is like where you are, but mosquitoes have a definite life span, they come, they peak, their numbers wane then they're gone. Around here they are unbearable about July then they taper off to reasonable numbers.
There are steps to take to mitigate their population numbers and keep them somewhat away from your property but that's only going to work as well as the steps your neighbor takes. There are also changes in your schedule that can minimize your exposure.
1. Make sure brown dead leaves are fully disposed of
Blowing them off to the side of your property sort of helps but not really. It's better if you can get it as far away as possible. Mosquitoes will otherwise simply hatch in the piles next to your property and come back to haunt you just the same. Getting rid of dead leaves is a good step.
2. During peak season plan your day according to the mosquito's schedule
If you need to go out do it early in the morning. Mosquitoes don't generally stir until the air gets hotter so the cool mornings are the ideal time of day to get out for a walk or get the gardening chores done.
3. Dragonflies and damselflies
These are seen wherever there is a lake or pond. They fly long distances to eat mosquitoes. But they won't help you out if your local municipality is spraying the ponds for mosquitoes because the sprays kill dragonfly larvae. The larvae are voracious predators of mosquitoes and they do a fine job keeping the population down once they're full grown, too.
4. Beware of so-called "100% natural" garden sprays
Many "earth-friendly," "green" and "100% natural" sprays for poison ivy or bugs contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a chemical that can harm the beneficial bugs that eat mosquito larvae.
5. Encourage bats
Bats eat tons of mosquitoes every night. Bats are your friends and generally are not interested in your blood.
6. Encourage birds
Some birds are mosquito eaters. Put out some bird baths, keep them filled daily and spread out some seed every morning and in the evening. Keep the birds coming back, make your yard a friendly destination.
7. Encourage frogs!
Some people mock the conservation minded who try to keep frogs and other lizards from getting run over at night when they come out in the spring and summer rains. But frogs are your allies in the war against mosquitoes!
There are steps to take to mitigate their population numbers and keep them somewhat away from your property but that's only going to work as well as the steps your neighbor takes. There are also changes in your schedule that can minimize your exposure.
1. Make sure brown dead leaves are fully disposed of
Blowing them off to the side of your property sort of helps but not really. It's better if you can get it as far away as possible. Mosquitoes will otherwise simply hatch in the piles next to your property and come back to haunt you just the same. Getting rid of dead leaves is a good step.
2. During peak season plan your day according to the mosquito's schedule
If you need to go out do it early in the morning. Mosquitoes don't generally stir until the air gets hotter so the cool mornings are the ideal time of day to get out for a walk or get the gardening chores done.
3. Dragonflies and damselflies
These are seen wherever there is a lake or pond. They fly long distances to eat mosquitoes. But they won't help you out if your local municipality is spraying the ponds for mosquitoes because the sprays kill dragonfly larvae. The larvae are voracious predators of mosquitoes and they do a fine job keeping the population down once they're full grown, too.
4. Beware of so-called "100% natural" garden sprays
Many "earth-friendly," "green" and "100% natural" sprays for poison ivy or bugs contain sodium lauryl sulfate, a chemical that can harm the beneficial bugs that eat mosquito larvae.
5. Encourage bats
Bats eat tons of mosquitoes every night. Bats are your friends and generally are not interested in your blood.
6. Encourage birds
Some birds are mosquito eaters. Put out some bird baths, keep them filled daily and spread out some seed every morning and in the evening. Keep the birds coming back, make your yard a friendly destination.
7. Encourage frogs!
Some people mock the conservation minded who try to keep frogs and other lizards from getting run over at night when they come out in the spring and summer rains. But frogs are your allies in the war against mosquitoes!
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Lindsaylew82
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Mosquitoes come out three days after it rains.
It is important to go out and drain all the pots and containers that have standing water. The ones you cannot drain, put some Bt for mosquitoes in them.
Frogs, geckos eat a lot of them.
To protect yourself, spray your clothes with deet.
Mosquito plants citrossa doesn't really work unless you can smell it and you have to crush the leaves.
Lemon grass and lemon thyme also are deterrents but same thing, the leaves have to be crushed and you have to be able to smell it. You cannot just stand near the plant.
Lemon grass is in the same family as the citronella plant.
It is important to go out and drain all the pots and containers that have standing water. The ones you cannot drain, put some Bt for mosquitoes in them.
Frogs, geckos eat a lot of them.
To protect yourself, spray your clothes with deet.
Mosquito plants citrossa doesn't really work unless you can smell it and you have to crush the leaves.
Lemon grass and lemon thyme also are deterrents but same thing, the leaves have to be crushed and you have to be able to smell it. You cannot just stand near the plant.
Lemon grass is in the same family as the citronella plant.
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skiingjeff
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Don't know if garlic will keep the mosquitos away but it sure will keep other humans away. 
We've tried a lot of things to keep them away and nothing is really 100% effective. We put mosquito dunks in the pond and bird baths at our house and empty standing water. The dunks are not harmful to wildlife.
If we're sitting in a single area we've found the Thermacell units do actually work but can be expensive if used a lot.
We tried planting citronella type plants but did not really notice a change in the mosquito population in the area. Some folks swear by using a rosemary extract bug repellent but it really didn't work on us that well.
Unfortunately Deet does seem to be the most effective mosquito repellent.
Good luck!
We've tried a lot of things to keep them away and nothing is really 100% effective. We put mosquito dunks in the pond and bird baths at our house and empty standing water. The dunks are not harmful to wildlife.
If we're sitting in a single area we've found the Thermacell units do actually work but can be expensive if used a lot.
We tried planting citronella type plants but did not really notice a change in the mosquito population in the area. Some folks swear by using a rosemary extract bug repellent but it really didn't work on us that well.
Unfortunately Deet does seem to be the most effective mosquito repellent.
Good luck!
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Lindsaylew82
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Try the dry ice! Lucky for me, I can get it for free from the packaging used with certain "live" implants used in surgery, where I work.
My local grocery store carries it for roughly $2/bag, and it keeps well wrapped in the deep freeze. Plus it's sooooo cooooool (...if you're into that kind of totally dorky stuff...
)
My local grocery store carries it for roughly $2/bag, and it keeps well wrapped in the deep freeze. Plus it's sooooo cooooool (...if you're into that kind of totally dorky stuff...
)
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applestar
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There's a DIY mosquito trap design floating around the net. I might have posted about it before -- it's sugar water and yeast solution in the bottom of a cut off plastic bottle with upper half taped on upside down as a funnel. Supposedly a successful science experiment by some students in China.
It's the same idea -- the yeast generate CO2 and small amount of warmth while it is actively multiplying.
I tried it but wasn't able to dedicate time and energy to conduct a thorough experimentation so I'm not sure it works. I did find that it needs to be set up in an area protected from rain (they put theirs indoors around the school building). And the solution needs to be replaced as the yeast replication runs its course.
...also, there was an interesting mechanical mosquito trap design using a box fan and a mesh screen net. I thought it might be possible to adapt a mesh plankton and fish fry net if you can't custom make one on your own. This would be used on a porch or patio near where people would be gathering or at the doorway to catch mosquitoes.
Of course the commercial mosquito traps use both of the basic design -- one or more lures and a fan blowing the gathered mosquitoes into a trap and sometimes blowing them against a zapper As well.
There was someone else suggesting a lure placed at the inside rim of a large container of water that is regularly treated with Bti. The idea is to get all the local the mosquitoes to lay eggs in THIS water so the larvae will never live to mature. It doesn't kill the mature mosquitoes but hopefully would limit future generations.
It's the same idea -- the yeast generate CO2 and small amount of warmth while it is actively multiplying.
I tried it but wasn't able to dedicate time and energy to conduct a thorough experimentation so I'm not sure it works. I did find that it needs to be set up in an area protected from rain (they put theirs indoors around the school building). And the solution needs to be replaced as the yeast replication runs its course.
...also, there was an interesting mechanical mosquito trap design using a box fan and a mesh screen net. I thought it might be possible to adapt a mesh plankton and fish fry net if you can't custom make one on your own. This would be used on a porch or patio near where people would be gathering or at the doorway to catch mosquitoes.
Of course the commercial mosquito traps use both of the basic design -- one or more lures and a fan blowing the gathered mosquitoes into a trap and sometimes blowing them against a zapper As well.
There was someone else suggesting a lure placed at the inside rim of a large container of water that is regularly treated with Bti. The idea is to get all the local the mosquitoes to lay eggs in THIS water so the larvae will never live to mature. It doesn't kill the mature mosquitoes but hopefully would limit future generations.
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webmaster
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It's more than just the mosquitoes you see that are the problem. There are the hibernating eggs from last year that are waiting to hatch. There are also the larvae and pupae that are already in water and under leaves, growing into adults.
Mosquito eggs can last eight months without water and through the winter. Those are last years mosquitoes you are generally seeing at first. Those mosquitoes live for about a week and a half, lay their eggs and start the cycle again.
1. Eggs are stimulated by water to hatch into larvae, water from rain or from watering your gardens and lawns. It doesn't take much to hatch the eggs.
2. Larvae live in the water for 1 to 2 weeks before turning into pupae.
3. Mosquito pupae transform into adult mosquitoes within 1 to 3 days.
Mosquito eggs can last eight months without water and through the winter. Those are last years mosquitoes you are generally seeing at first. Those mosquitoes live for about a week and a half, lay their eggs and start the cycle again.
1. Eggs are stimulated by water to hatch into larvae, water from rain or from watering your gardens and lawns. It doesn't take much to hatch the eggs.
2. Larvae live in the water for 1 to 2 weeks before turning into pupae.
3. Mosquito pupae transform into adult mosquitoes within 1 to 3 days.
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applestar
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I like BtI as a solution at first glance, but I would like to see a comprehensive list of ALL insects that are infected by this bacteria. If it also works on fungus gnat larvae, doesn't it follow that there are other moist soil dwelling insects that could be infected too?
The description of hibernating eggs makes me wonder if beneficial nematodes might be a good solution for those.
The description of hibernating eggs makes me wonder if beneficial nematodes might be a good solution for those.
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Lindsaylew82
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I read that Johnson's Creamy Baby Oil, in the green tube, works as a repellent. I decided to try it because the mosquitoes are THICK around here!
It works! It smells amazing! It FEELS amazing! It's smooth, not like baby oil. It goes on like a light lotion. It does smell a little girly though, but I think if fabulous!
It works! It smells amazing! It FEELS amazing! It's smooth, not like baby oil. It goes on like a light lotion. It does smell a little girly though, but I think if fabulous!
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Allyn
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Lindsaylew82 wrote:I read that Johnson's Creamy Baby Oil, in the green tube, works as a repellent. I decided to try it because the mosquitoes are THICK around here! It works! It smells amazing! It FEELS amazing! It's smooth, not like baby oil. It goes on like a light lotion. It does smell a little girly though, but I think if fabulous!
The only one I see in the green tube from Johnsons is the creamy baby oil with aloe and vitamin E. Is that the right one?
Back in the day, we used Skin So Soft from Avon. It worked great as a bug repellent, but I don't know if they make that anymore; and if they do, I don't know if it is the same formula. The back of our property is so wet we have resident crawfish and the mosquitos can be quite thick.
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meshmouse
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I know a little about mosquitos.
Here on Long Island, the mosquitos are so big, they can stand flat footed and make love to a turkey.
Around here, they seem to show up the very day the temp reaches 55-60F. They stay around until the temp goes below 55-60F. There is no waxing and waning in their occupation of an otherwise peaceful paradise. So from mid April to mid-late October, they rule the roost.
I know this because, apparently, I am a mosquito magnet. If they are there, they will find me. Apparently some people are more attractive to them than others.
They are also supposedly attracted to certain color tones, more to darker ones, less to lighter ones.
There are different breeds of mosquitos. Some are only active in the morning, others only during the day, some only in the evening, still others only at night. Between them all, they've got my life covered.
As best I know, they are all repulsed by garlic and attracted to carbon dioxide (your exhaled breath). Dry ice (the frozen, solid form of carbon dioxide) can be used to lure them away from you. The various 'mosquito traps' that burn a small pilot light of propane that lures them into an electrical kill zone, works on the same principle. So, stop exhaling and problem solved.
I have used garlic spray in an attempt to repel them. It was fairly effective. And altho you don't need to re-apply it after every rain (the garlic soaks into the leaves, grass, etc. and lasts a couple of weeks at best), it does need to be repeatedly applied to be effective.
They usually live their short lives within a hundred feet or so of where they were born (altho different breeds roam different distances).
webmaster has said that leaf piles can be breeding grounds. While I wouldn't argue that, I will say that when I stir up a pile of leaves (making compost), I don't often see mosquitos come flying out. However, when I walk thru the English Ivy, they stir by the dozens. But, anywhere water can be standing, mosquitos can breed.
Back when I used to keep a fish tank, I'd keep a jar of water out on the porch and every other day or so, I would strain it thru my fish net and drop the wiggling larvae into my tank, and the fish would go nuts on them. Brings to mind the role of guppies in the (finally) successful completion of the Panama Canal. Once it was understood that the mosquito was complicent in the spread of malaria and yellow fever (that killed tens of thousands of workers on the project) among the many other measures of control (that eventually proved successful), was the stocking of waterways with small fish that would feed on the larvea.
And while bats are our friends and eat tons of mosquitos (and are just plain fun to feed at dusk) in New York State, they are about 80% rabid. So, don't touch. Of course, that info is 20 years old, but I would still be careful.
Encourage birds, but remember to dump and refresh bird baths at least every other day if it is standing water (no aeration). Apparently mosquitos won't lay eggs in moving water.
imafan - I don't know about three days. I suppose you're right at the start of the season (the larvea need time to mature), but once it's underway, while the rain brings them on heavy, in my experience, they are always there. They're breeding in the little pools of water sitting on the underlayers of English Ivy, particularly in the shade that prevents any 'drying out'.
I suppose the lemon balm and all the other variously reported herbal repellants might have some effect, but it won't clear out your yard or even your deck in my opinion.
Spray with deet? Isn't that just one step shy of DDT (remember 'Silent Spring'?). Personally, I wouldn't do it. That being said, I have been told by numerous 'outdoorsmen' (campers, hunters, fishermen, excuse me - fisherpersons - who are willing to wear the deet) that Cutter makes a very powerful deet based 'outdoorsman' product that they all rave about.
The US government Center for Disease Control (CDC) has tested many products as potential repellants and there are only two they found worth mentioning. One is 'deet' and secondly and equally as effective is lemon eucalyptus oil at a 30% concentration. The only difference being deet lasts longer (8 hrs compared to 5 or 6 hrs, I think).
There are many types of eucalyptus, but it is the lemon eucalyptus that is equal to deet. Cutter makes a 'Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellant' (deet free) at a 30% concentration that sells at WMart for about $5 for a four oz spray bottle. You will also, occasionally find 'Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellant'. Same product, same size bottle, (different printing on the label) same price, I'm sure the same manufacturer. I have used them both and they are tremendously effective for me.
It does smell like a lemony 'Vicks Vapor Rub', but I find it refreshing, (awakening in fact). It will clear your sinuses out as well.
When I am going to be in mosquito territory (meaning 'outside') for any length of time, I am wearing light weight, light colored long sleeved clothes. I lay them out on a table, turn off any fans, lightly spray the back of shirt, pants and socks. Then the front. Then I get dressed. Then I spray my shoes and ankles a bit more, hands and wrists as well, then my hat if I'm going to wear one (inside and out) then my head, neck and collar all around (eyes squinted closed) and then I'm good to go. It only takes a minute or two to do and I get about 6 - 8 applications per 4 oz bottle.
While it's not 100% effective (nothing is), I was bit maybe 5 times total last year in about 180 days exposure. It is also very effective against ticks as well (of which we have many). Not a single tick bite last year (which is incredible). I have watched mosquitos hover to me, land on me and quickly fly away. They really don't like this stuff. I highly recommend it. And no, I have no affiliation, nor stock in anything related to the product.
I also tried the sugar/yeast trap that applestar refers to, but with no success. I don't know why. But I was thinking if I made it dark inside (with paper or paint) that might help.
Another trap I heard of was a dark box with a jar of sugar yeast deep inside and one of those battery-electrified little tennis racket zappers in front of it. Supposedly effective, but what isn't on YouTube?
Well, that's about all I know (or think I know, anyway)
meshmouse
Here on Long Island, the mosquitos are so big, they can stand flat footed and make love to a turkey.
Around here, they seem to show up the very day the temp reaches 55-60F. They stay around until the temp goes below 55-60F. There is no waxing and waning in their occupation of an otherwise peaceful paradise. So from mid April to mid-late October, they rule the roost.
I know this because, apparently, I am a mosquito magnet. If they are there, they will find me. Apparently some people are more attractive to them than others.
They are also supposedly attracted to certain color tones, more to darker ones, less to lighter ones.
There are different breeds of mosquitos. Some are only active in the morning, others only during the day, some only in the evening, still others only at night. Between them all, they've got my life covered.
As best I know, they are all repulsed by garlic and attracted to carbon dioxide (your exhaled breath). Dry ice (the frozen, solid form of carbon dioxide) can be used to lure them away from you. The various 'mosquito traps' that burn a small pilot light of propane that lures them into an electrical kill zone, works on the same principle. So, stop exhaling and problem solved.
I have used garlic spray in an attempt to repel them. It was fairly effective. And altho you don't need to re-apply it after every rain (the garlic soaks into the leaves, grass, etc. and lasts a couple of weeks at best), it does need to be repeatedly applied to be effective.
They usually live their short lives within a hundred feet or so of where they were born (altho different breeds roam different distances).
webmaster has said that leaf piles can be breeding grounds. While I wouldn't argue that, I will say that when I stir up a pile of leaves (making compost), I don't often see mosquitos come flying out. However, when I walk thru the English Ivy, they stir by the dozens. But, anywhere water can be standing, mosquitos can breed.
Back when I used to keep a fish tank, I'd keep a jar of water out on the porch and every other day or so, I would strain it thru my fish net and drop the wiggling larvae into my tank, and the fish would go nuts on them. Brings to mind the role of guppies in the (finally) successful completion of the Panama Canal. Once it was understood that the mosquito was complicent in the spread of malaria and yellow fever (that killed tens of thousands of workers on the project) among the many other measures of control (that eventually proved successful), was the stocking of waterways with small fish that would feed on the larvea.
And while bats are our friends and eat tons of mosquitos (and are just plain fun to feed at dusk) in New York State, they are about 80% rabid. So, don't touch. Of course, that info is 20 years old, but I would still be careful.
Encourage birds, but remember to dump and refresh bird baths at least every other day if it is standing water (no aeration). Apparently mosquitos won't lay eggs in moving water.
imafan - I don't know about three days. I suppose you're right at the start of the season (the larvea need time to mature), but once it's underway, while the rain brings them on heavy, in my experience, they are always there. They're breeding in the little pools of water sitting on the underlayers of English Ivy, particularly in the shade that prevents any 'drying out'.
I suppose the lemon balm and all the other variously reported herbal repellants might have some effect, but it won't clear out your yard or even your deck in my opinion.
Spray with deet? Isn't that just one step shy of DDT (remember 'Silent Spring'?). Personally, I wouldn't do it. That being said, I have been told by numerous 'outdoorsmen' (campers, hunters, fishermen, excuse me - fisherpersons - who are willing to wear the deet) that Cutter makes a very powerful deet based 'outdoorsman' product that they all rave about.
The US government Center for Disease Control (CDC) has tested many products as potential repellants and there are only two they found worth mentioning. One is 'deet' and secondly and equally as effective is lemon eucalyptus oil at a 30% concentration. The only difference being deet lasts longer (8 hrs compared to 5 or 6 hrs, I think).
There are many types of eucalyptus, but it is the lemon eucalyptus that is equal to deet. Cutter makes a 'Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellant' (deet free) at a 30% concentration that sells at WMart for about $5 for a four oz spray bottle. You will also, occasionally find 'Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellant'. Same product, same size bottle, (different printing on the label) same price, I'm sure the same manufacturer. I have used them both and they are tremendously effective for me.
It does smell like a lemony 'Vicks Vapor Rub', but I find it refreshing, (awakening in fact). It will clear your sinuses out as well.
When I am going to be in mosquito territory (meaning 'outside') for any length of time, I am wearing light weight, light colored long sleeved clothes. I lay them out on a table, turn off any fans, lightly spray the back of shirt, pants and socks. Then the front. Then I get dressed. Then I spray my shoes and ankles a bit more, hands and wrists as well, then my hat if I'm going to wear one (inside and out) then my head, neck and collar all around (eyes squinted closed) and then I'm good to go. It only takes a minute or two to do and I get about 6 - 8 applications per 4 oz bottle.
While it's not 100% effective (nothing is), I was bit maybe 5 times total last year in about 180 days exposure. It is also very effective against ticks as well (of which we have many). Not a single tick bite last year (which is incredible). I have watched mosquitos hover to me, land on me and quickly fly away. They really don't like this stuff. I highly recommend it. And no, I have no affiliation, nor stock in anything related to the product.
I also tried the sugar/yeast trap that applestar refers to, but with no success. I don't know why. But I was thinking if I made it dark inside (with paper or paint) that might help.
Another trap I heard of was a dark box with a jar of sugar yeast deep inside and one of those battery-electrified little tennis racket zappers in front of it. Supposedly effective, but what isn't on YouTube?
Well, that's about all I know (or think I know, anyway)
meshmouse
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Lindsaylew82
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applestar
- Mod
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O, couple of old posts and threads to add to the mix
2009
Subject: Plants for Flea control
Subject: ORGANIC MOSQUITO CONTROL
...one of my posts in the thread...
Rosemary and Lemon (verbena/balm/grass) shampoo. I can't say they completely prevent mosquito bites, but I'm a mosquito magnet, too -- NOBODY else might get bit but I will.
So I might be getting 5 bites instead of over a dozen using these.
2009
Subject: Plants for Flea control
5 pg thread started in 2013applestar wrote:I *was* going to mention the nematodes -- not that I've tried them, but that I've seen them advertised. So thanks for that article webmaster!
I did a pretty thorough internet search for natural bug repellents a couple of years ago, and one recipe that kept coming up that many people claimed worked well for fleas was the lemon and rosemary spray -- don't have it on hand right now, but it went something like slice up a whole lemon, pour boiling water over it and steep overnight, then add sprig of rosemary or few drops of rosemary essential oil. Anyway, if this is true, and esp in your Texas location, maybe rosemary plus one of the many plants with limonene oil -- I'm thinking lemon thyme, lemon grass, lemon geranium, etc. type of plants (or even citrus trees) would help? Another combo that is supposed to be effective against mosquitoes (not sure about fleas) is lemon and eucalyptus.
Let us know if you find something that is effective.
Subject: ORGANIC MOSQUITO CONTROL
...one of my posts in the thread...
I did that and have done it every year since. Eucalyptus and Lemon Verbena body soap andapplestar wrote:Lemon eucalyptus has been touted as "more effective than deet". I wonder if there are anything other than eucalyptus that has the "eucalyptus" scent?
I have switched my body soap from cocoa/shea butter and mango moisturizing winter soap to to lemon grass/lemon verbena summer soap, and will be combining with eucalyptus soap soon (I stick the two bars together). I'm making a new batch of rosemary scented shampoo (I just stuff the shampoo bottle with rosemary sprigs and fill with unscented kids shampoo.) this year, I think I'll make rosemary and lemongrass shampoo.
Rosemary and Lemon (verbena/balm/grass) shampoo. I can't say they completely prevent mosquito bites, but I'm a mosquito magnet, too -- NOBODY else might get bit but I will.
So I might be getting 5 bites instead of over a dozen using these.