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Mosquito Larvae
- The most effective way to avoid bites -
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Summary: Controlling mosquito larvae is the best way to reduce mosquito bites and the diseases that mosquitoes spread. Standing water sources, where larvae develop, should be drained or treated.
Jack DeAngelis, PhD
OSU Ext. Entomologist (ret.)
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Drain standing water
 Sounds simple but it is true -- the best way to eliminate adult biting mosquitoes is to eliminate mosquito larvae (right). Mosquito larvae develop in standing water and even a small volume of water can support large numbers of larvae.
Landscape planters, fountains and ponds should be checked regularly for mosquito larvae. Larvae will appear as small wriggling "worms" attached to the surface (right) or swimming near the bottom. Small containers should be drained or at least flushed and refilled about once a week during warm summer months. Eliminating sources of standing water, including rain gutters, will significantly reduce the number of biting mosquitoes and the chances of getting a disease like West Nile virus.
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Yellow fever mosquito larvae (top) suspended, head down, from water surface by siphon tubes.
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Treat standing water
You can treat water to control mosquito larvae with a bacterial insecticide called Bti (shorthand for Bacillus thurengiensis israeliensis). This bacterium is highly specific for mosquito and black fly larvae and won't harm plants, fish or other animals that drink the water. Treat only permanent bodies of water that can't be drained or flushed such as ponds or large fountains. Bti should be applied to water as granules (callled "bits") or pressed cakes (called "dunks") which dissolve releasing the mosquito-attacking bacterium. If dunks are used in horse troughs you should sink them with a weight so that the horses don't eat them.
Bti bits and dunks, as well as other mosquito control products, can be found at Arbico Organics (see Mosquito Control @ Arbico-Organics (search on "mosquito control").
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What about adult mosquitoes?
First of all don't use blacklight "bug zappers"-type traps for mosquitoes. They may actually make matters worse because they tend to draw mosquitoes into the immediate area. These devices also indiscriminately kill beneficial insect species. New propane-powered mosquito traps are one way to capture and kill adult mosquitoes without using insecticides but not everyone agrees they are effective. They do not, however, impact beneficial insects the way bug zapper-type traps do. These new traps lure female mosquitoes by a combination of carbon dioxide and odor (see Using Propane Mosquito Traps).
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The best way to protect yourself from adult mosquitoes and other biting flies is to use insect repellent. There are now effective long-lasting alternatives to DEET (see Using Insect Repellents). Finally, contact your county board of health (or equivalent governmental body) and talk to them about setting up a regional vector control district in your area.
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Mission: To provide accurate, up-to-date and unbiased information for solving common insect and mite problems around your home, business and landscape using least-toxic methods.
Jack DeAngelis, Ph.D.
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Copyright © 2004-... LivingWithBugs, LLC. All rights reserved. Page Updated: 3/5/2010
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