Mosquito control - new products to try

13 years ago

It is that time of year again where every state in the Eastern United States, the Gulf Coast and many others become invaded by tiny little blood sucking monsters, i.e. the common mosquito. Here in my part of Maryland we have the Asian Tiger Mosquito, a very aggressive non-native mosquito that is my bane of existence from June to September. Did I mention I'm allergic to mosquito bites? Yep, I get big feverish painful welts. Our area is also a persistent hotbed for West Nile Virus.

For years I've depended on my old standby of Deep Woods Off to control these dangerous insects. This stuff really works. No bites, even if you miss a spot. The only rub is the oily, nasty smelling residue it leaves on your skin, and lord help you if you get it in your eyes. When you combine the DWO with a sunscreen the combined effect makes you feel like a greased pig - not very comfortable when you are spending hours in the garden when it is hot and humid.

I lighten up on the "grease" by using a spray on sunscreen that delivers a fine, thin coat that by itself doesn't feel greasy (Neutrogena Fresh Cooling Body Mist Sunblock SPF 70). Of course the DEET still delivers enough oil for that deep fat fry feeling.

Until now,

Folks the new OFF! Clip on Mosquito Repellent is AWESOME!!! So far I've used it three times AND NO BITES! The clip on has a tiny motor that delivers a super fine cloud of mist that you can't see, feel or smell. Well, I did notice a smell on my cloths one day but that was when I was out there from 9:30am to 8pm on a Sunday. Now to be completely honest I've still got the worst part of summer ahead of me but so far this project seems like a real innovation.

There is also a really good article on the new mosquito control products in today's WALL STREET JOURNAL on pages D1 & D2. Of particular interest to me is the new organic Bull Frog Mosquito Coast SPF 30 by Chattem Inc. It includes a sunscreen and repellent in one, that the author rated high because of the very light smell (she said it smelled like sunscreen), long lasting ability, and no bites during her self test. Interestingly, the product doesn't use Deet, but instead a synthetic version of a naturally occurring amino acid called IR3535. The people over at DuPont are also working on a catnip based repellent that shows promise to be just as effective as DEET, slated for release in one to two years.

Happy Rose Gardening,

Patrick

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Comments (10)

mendocino_rose
13 years ago
That's great Patrick! You know that stuff in the slather on repellents isn't good for you and is absorbed into your body so this is cool.
michaelg
13 years ago
The arrival of the Asian Tiger really changed people's lives around here. We didn't use to have mosquitos at all. (No flat spots = no puddles.) But the AT breeds in every plastic cup or beer can that some jerk throws in the bushes, also plant saucers, stump holes, sluggish gutters, etc.
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Hi, Let me try and describe the entire system. It is not totaly installed yet. I've strted installing it but I still have a fair amount left. before this system I was watering once per week with a watering can. As you can probably imagine the plants did not like that. Particularly since the garden is located on a windy hill. I lost 50% of a large tomato yeild to cracking related problems as the result of uneven watering. A number of other crops were total failures and some like the corn did not have to much of a problem (not suprised given it is a c4 plant). Now for the system. On top of the hill, on a 1 ft Dirt mound and maybe cinder blocks is the large storage drum. A pvc bulkhead will be attached to this drum. Attached to the bullkehead is a 200 mesh y filter with a female hose adapter inlet and a male hose outlet. Attached to the filter is a 0 PSI hose end timer with a mesh filter on the inlet. Attached to the timer is a melanor automatic rain shutoff device. Attached to that is a 3/4" female hose adaptor with a 1/2" compression adaptor on the other end. Then there is a .700 OD 1/2" mainline running ~ 40ft across the top of the hill. There are three columns of terraced beds running paralel to the slope of the hill. The column closet to the start of the system has 4 5X8 beds. The middle column has 4 5X8 beds and the far column has three 5X8 beds. Each column will have a 1/2" mainline, attached to the 1/2" mailnie running across the hill with a tee connector, running one each side of th bed. The only exception will be the lowest bed in the farthest column which will only have a line on one side ( the far side) of the bed. Spaced 1ft apart running across the long side of each bed perpindicular to the slope of the hill will be 1/4" drip tubing with inline 1/2 gallon per hour emitters (20PSI). That should be about 40 Emitters per bed. With 11 beds that is 440 emitters. The fish pond (not sure how large exactly) is about a 10ft vertical drop from the top of the large tank. Since the drop is about the same for the bottom bed I calculated That I would have 4.3 PSI at those emitters and 2.58 at the top most emitters when the drums are full. when they are almost empty I'll have 2.58 PSI at the bottom beds and about .43 PSI at the top beds. On a sunny windy week with no rainfall at all I'm guessing the plants will need 2" of water since the normal recomendation it 1-2" of water per week. At .52 gallons of water per square foot with every inch of rain I calculated that over my 11 beds and 440 SQF that would be 228.8 Gallons of water a week per inch of rain. For 2" of rain that would be 457.6 gallons per week. Summary 440 SQF 11 Beds 10 FT from top of drum to pond surface 12" spacing between emitters 12" spacing between lines 440 emitters? 4.3 max PSI .43 Min PSI each tube is connected to two mainlines. Thanks for your help
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citronella works to an extent, but not always. we get them so bad around here that even with multiple citronella lamps and pots burning in a circle around us they will come in. heaven forbid if we get a flooding rain in june, you cannot go outside at dark the rest of the summer. the MOST effective way i have found, though not quite affordable yet, is a home spraying system which uses pyrethrium. the price is around 5k for my house, then 150-200 a month after that. but it works, not jus tfor mosquitos but ALL insects. and it is non toxic. the spray is just a natural extract from chrysanthemum or something, i can't remember exactly. you can turn the system off manually if you are going to be outside during a shcedule spray cycle, but even if you don't it won't hurt you.
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redsox_gw
13 years ago
We just bought the new clip on but have not used it yet. It was a bit $$$ and when you are talking about a family, well, I don't know what the radius is for 4 of us.

Still, it seems like a good innovation. I love to deadhead at night when it is still light and the kids are in bed but forget about it! Maybe this will do the trick.
buford
13 years ago
Patrick, like you I am a mosquito magnet and also suffer greatly from the bites. One year I had so many they merged into one big mess that my doctor swore was poison ivy or chiggers, but it was just mosquito bites.

I saw those little clip ons and meant to buy them. Now I will. I have the spray, but hate using it. I usually go out in the yard in the evening after work to putter, but when I get back in I can't stand the feel/smell of that stuff on me so I have to take a shower.

I stopped using deet when I sprayed in on my feet once and it removed the polish on my toenails. LOL. I don't think I need that on my skin.
thonotorose
13 years ago
Apropos to the thread... I just got a two for one deal, (sorry, the sale is over) from a local Neem tree dealer. It is neem and citronella in a lotion base.

We are dry again here so in watering the front last evening, I was bitten many times. I went in and applied the lotion and watered the back. I did not get bitten at all and did feel one light on my neck.

The small bottle looks like it will only work for, at most, five applications, so I am going to try making my own.

Vickie Parsons is a US neem expert.

Here is a link that might be useful: It is still on special!
hartwood
13 years ago
A friend was just telling me about the Off Clip-on Repellent while she was here yesterday. She says it works! I plan to get one when I go out tomorrow. There's a link for a buy one/get one coupon in the link below.

Connie

Here is a link that might be useful: Buy one/Get one coupon
wren_garden
13 years ago
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I just came in from walking our dog with a number of new bites. I wanted to do some weeding but said no after that attack of Mosquitos. I can't stand to be greased up either Patrick. I sweat so much when I work outside, add greasies and it takes the joy out of the time in the garden. Wow and a light sunscreen product too. Aah, no more greasies. Connie thanks for the coupon.Going to the store now. I am honestly looking forward to weeding, lol.
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
13 years ago
Patrick, did you know that you can get allergy shots for a mosquito allergy. Mine is a true allergy. I may get 6 or 7 mosquito bites on one day, then in 36 hours, one of the bites begins to swell. It swells to the point that I cannot cover it with my hand, it develops a purple knot the size of a quarter, and it begins an unusual itch that feels dangerous.

When I was diagnosed the allergist even insisted that I carry adrenalin for 2 weeks until the shots had time to take effect. That was many many years ago, and after the two weeks or so, my mosquito bites are just annoying, but not dangerous. I still take the shots.

I worry about the diseases that they carry and that ticks carry.

Aren't you in the medical profession? You might ask to be skin tested.

Thanks for your recommendation.

I have been using Cutter from Lowes. like you, I put on sun block (Coppertone) then the spray. It doesn't take long to feel very dirty.

When I first saw the ad of the new spray on TV, I thought it would be unsafe to breathe. But if the stuff is on your skin, you still breathe it.

Sammy
michaelg
13 years ago
The chemical in the clip-on is not Deet. It is a synthetic pyrethroid. These are insecticides that also repel some insects. No telling at this point which is safer to use..
sammy zone 7 Tulsa
13 years ago
After our discussion about mosquitoes, last night as I was getting ready for bed, I heard a buzz in my ear. Fortunately I was able to kill it, but sometimes, I spray one of the sprays in my hand and pat my neck, face, and hair so I can sleep well. They will just buzz and buzz all night.

Sammy

Mosquito control - new products to try

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mendocino_rose

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