“It’s virtually unattainable to regulate mosquitoes within the grownup stage,” says College of Delaware entomology professor Doug Tallamy, PhD, so stopping them whereas they’re within the larval stage is the simplest tactic. He recommends utilizing Mosquito Dunks, commercially obtainable tablets that kill larvae earlier than they’ll develop into blood-sucking feminine adults, the one mosquitoes that chew.
“You get a bucket, fill it filled with water, put in a handful of straw, hay, or lifeless leaves, and you then put it within the solar for a few days and it builds up populations of diatoms and algae,” Tallamy says. “That’s what mosquito larvae eat and that’s what attracts the grownup feminine mosquitoes. It’s not the Mosquito Dunk that draws them. And as soon as the feminine has laid her eggs within the bucket, which is a number of days later, you then add the Mosquito Dunk.”
The tablets include a nonchemical pesticide, or biopesticide, Bacillus thuringiensis, which is a naturally occurring micro organism present in soil that destroys mosquito larvae however isn’t dangerous to individuals or animals.
One other easy tactic is to make use of an electrical fan while you’re sitting outside. “Mosquitoes can’t fly right into a directed breeze,” Tallamy explains.
Sporting lengthy sleeves and pants and minimizing standing water in your yard or in your residence balcony are different methods to cut back mosquito bites.
Tallamy advises towards spraying pesticides or foggers. “You’re killing all of the pollinators that we want and never controlling mosquitoes.”
(Construct your individual mosquito-repelling patio or deck with with these 9 mosquito-repelling vegetation.)
