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Mosquito
Larvae
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The
most effective way to avoid bites is to
control larvae -
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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 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 suspended, head
down, from water surface by siphon tubes.
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Treat standing water
You can treat standing 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 they should be sunk with a
weight to keep them out of reach of animals.
Bti bits and dunks, as well as other
mosquito control products, can be found here: Mosquito Control
(DoMyOwn.com, our affiliate).
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What about adult mosquitoes?
First of all don't use black
light "bug zappers" for mosquitoes (see Related
Articles below). These traps may actually
make matters worse because they draw mosquitoes
into the area. Black light traps also
indiscriminately kill beneficial insect species.
New propane-powered carbon dioxide traps are one
way to capture and kill adult mosquitoes without
using insecticides but they are not effective in
every situation. These traps do not impact
beneficial insects the way bug zapper traps do
(see Using Propane
Mosquito Traps).
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.
What are
Mosquitoes?
Are Black Light Traps
Effective?
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