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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 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 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.
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What about adult
mosquitoes?
First of all don't
use black light "bug zappers"-type traps for
mosquitoes (see Related
Articles below). These traps may actually
make matters worse because they tend to draw
mosquitoes into the immediate 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-type 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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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.
Please see the Disclaimer statements as
well.
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