Dealing with mosquitos in the garden

We, too, had a horrible time last year with mosquitoes that were quite vicious. They were larger that the usual garden-variety mosquito with white banding around their abdomens, and I had never seen that type of mosquito before. I felt compelled to Google them and learned they are Asian Tiger mosquitoes that are quite aggressive and give bad bites. These mosquitoes also don't care whether it's daylight or dusk when other mosquitoes begin to stir -- they're on the prowl and attack any time of day or night. I tried Deep Woods Off and it didn't work; I tried citronella and it didn't work; I tried planting multitudes of marigolds and it didn't work -- so we were at a loss about what to do. I always made sure there was no standing water anywhere in my front or back yards and even kept my birdbaths dry. With the relatively mild winter we've had, I'm afraid the skeeter situation might be just as bad this coming season. Maybe somebody out there has some other suggestions that can help you and me!?!

Posted by: Anonymous at March 30, 2006 9:20 AM

Anyone have experience with these skeeter eaters/mosquito magnets?? They are a couple hundred bucks, but certainly would be worth it to get rid of these annoying creatures!
http://www.skeeter-eater.com/products.html

Posted by: Anonymous at March 30, 2006 9:45 AM

A freind of mine purchased one of the expensive skeeter-eater modles a few years ago. He was unimpressed -- he called to company and they admitted it doesn't work on all types of mosquitoes including the Asian Tiger mosquitoes.
I've found spraying the back yard with a lawn insectacide (the type you attach to a hose) works, but only for a few days.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 30, 2006 4:16 PM

My parents have a Mosquito Deleto (Sp?) that uses a propane tank to produce a very small flame that produces CO2 which is supposed to fool the bugs into thinking the machine is the exhaled breath of some mammal and then lures them into this glue trap thing. They didn't think the thing actually cut down on the little bastards.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 30, 2006 9:32 PM

Has anyone tried getting frogs in a pond?
They do the job in Australia on my aunt's farm...dunno if they're Asian tiger mozzies or not though, but the frogs certainly look happy and fat. And sort of...musical. In a way.

Posted by: Anonymous at March 30, 2006 9:42 PM

I just realized I have a catalog called Gardeners Supply (they're also online), and they sell a number of different (non-toxic) mosquito control products. I might order a couple of items to see how well they work, although I think the Asian Tigers are a breed onto themselves and might be tough to repel. Worth a try anyway and not a big $$ expenditure.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 2, 2006 12:13 PM

Anon, 4:16 pm, I'm Anon 9:20 am, March 30, and I live on President between Smith and Hoyt. As you already know through your own research, google results for the Asian Tiger mosquito show a photo of a black mosquito with distinctive white markings on its body. That's exactly what was attacking us last summer, so I don't understand why the Health Dept would say otherwise. I agree with you, the google results specifically state these mosquitoes are aggressive, biting insects, anytime of day or night. They also bite through clothing, so exposed skin or not, last summer was really bad and we weren't able to enjoy our front or backyards. I was bitten alive while repainting the garden bench in my front yard, and this was mid-morning when you usually do not see mosquitoes.

Posted by: Anonymous at April 3, 2006 4:44 PM

Anon 11:03, I'm with you. I think that the West Nile mosquito has occupied more DOH attention in recent years, and I doubt anything will be done unless the Tigers start seriously swarming and cause disease...which I hope doesn't happen. Given the dozens of bites family members and I suffered last summer, we didn't get sick, thank goodness, except for significant skin irritation. I wouldn't be surprised if the Canal is the source. As you said, the Tigers are migrating from the south, and in light of that, I fear that last year might have been the outer fringe of the northward migration. By the way, I just ordered some mosquito bait products from Gardeners Supply (www.gardeners.com), and I have a fleeting hope that these products might help. Good luck to all of us this summer!

Posted by: Anonymous at April 5, 2006 4:41 PM