Solving The Mosquito Problem
It’s peak mosquito season in Brooklyn right now and many people are avoiding their backyards as a result. After hearing all the complaints, we’ve actually been surprised at how tolerable the situation is in our own garden. Nevertheless, an alternative to slathering on insect repellent would be welcome. The Times last week wrote about one…
It’s peak mosquito season in Brooklyn right now and many people are avoiding their backyards as a result. After hearing all the complaints, we’ve actually been surprised at how tolerable the situation is in our own garden. Nevertheless, an alternative to slathering on insect repellent would be welcome. The Times last week wrote about one potential solution–the Mosquito Magnet. Here’s how it works: The machine uses a propane tank that dispenses carbon dioxide mixed with an attractant; a vacuum nozzle then sucks in an kills the pests. Prices range from $199 to about $850, depending on the model. Sounds good to us. Anyone ever used one?
How It Works [Mosquito Magnet]
Help! Mosquitoes [NY Times]
Any additional amount of CO2 is bad, miniscule or not, especially for such a ridiculous purpose. Part of the problem or part of the solution?
We have one in our back yard and it works great. Without it, it would be impossible to sit there for even a few moments. Placement is key, I think. Re: Anon 11.40: ours was also chewed on by a squirrel, and we had to send it back for repair. They replaced the chewed up line with one that was steel braided.
When did the City last spray for West Nile? If it’s been two years, perhaps the mosquitos are catching up to previous levels.
Anyone want to buy one? It didn’t do much for us.
Great idea. Pump more CO2 into the atmosphere to simply kill mosquitos. Meanwhile, the extra CO2 is adding to the greenhouse effect which is very likely adding to global warming which eventually leads to more breeding ground for more mosquitos. Great idea.
Jason, the mosquitoes are SO BAD in my Brooklyn yard that I literally run into the house. Even so, I typically get a bite or two while I fumble with my keys, etc. I got dozens of bites while gardening at dusk a few weeks ago — and I was wearing three kinds of bug repellant.
My folks got a Mosquito Magnet for their house in Maine, and after a couple of weeks you could sit on the porch at dusk, which used to be a death wish. Impressive, and considering their house is in a pine forest, I doubt it was the placebo effect.
I agree with Jason – you guys gotta be kidding me about these machines. And I seriously can’t imagine that the mosquitoes are so bad in New York city that you have to spend so much money on such an evil device.
How about a screened-in porch? Anyone have one?
So, let me get this straight. It’s 2006, we’re all urbanist, at least slightly left-of-center, young people — and what we’re supposed to do is buy a machine to put into our back yards, the entire purpose of which is to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere?
How is this thing even legal?