Auryn,
we have had mosquitos really bad this year too!!!
I am also at the point of giving up going outside :-(
Is there anything that really works to trap them?
My only hope are the mosquito magnets, Does anybody has any
experience with them?
And also, all of you guys grow bromeliads, do you do anything special for them not to bread in the water cups?
Thanks Veronika
We have to win this battle :-)

My neighbors have a mosquito misting system that is working for them. We are seriously considering having one installed. From what I have read the chemicals used are biodegradable and actually come from plant extracts! Check out this website www.callthegman.com.

Auryn,

There is an extensive posting on the Bromeliad Forum concerning mosquitoes and bromeliads.

I've heard that fragrances such as patchouli can help deter them, but I've haven't experimented with this yet. I'm crosing my fingers and investing in Off. Now that our ditch is full of water, it's going to be hell. I have lots of frogs and toads about, but they need to start working harder!

Hi Aauryn, I have the mosquito problem bad and I have lots of bromeliads. I normally break up mosquito dunks in small pieces and put a tiny bit in each brom cup.

I use the mosquito donuts in my little water garden and my rain barrels. Other than that, I swat and scratch. It is not near as bad as the mosquitos and blackflies in Maine.

I'd be afraid that the mist would drive off lady bugs, butterflies and dragonflies, all of whom I want in my garden.

Not the Mosquito mister!!!!!
It is TOTAL knock down. I got on the site and it mentions killing bothersome moths and wasps along with the mosquitos.What they do NOT advertise is they kill bees butterflies and beneficial insects. Why spray the whole yard when it is just you that needs protecting?
Also it says Pyrethrums do not hang around long so they add other chemicals to it. So you will constantly be exposed to this .
BT in the Bromeliads,rain barrels and puddles.Ask the ext office about this.
We use some insecticide bracelets and long pants/shirts. If you are close to an electric outlet you can place a floor fan nearby to keep them off you.We do this in the AM so we can enjoy the morning on the patio.Obviously this won't work on the back 40 but it is mosquito season.Who says we don't have seasons in florida? We have Huirricane season,snowbird season,mosquito season,dry season,flu season,allergy season,,,,,,anyone else got some????

Yeah, I distrust that mosquito system that sprays they yard, or whatever!
We have lots of those little guys this year...water all around us so there is not escaping.
I know that they are biting me but I don't have any reaction! Lucky me. Still, I don't want those blood suching disease carrying buggers biting me!

Have you tried taking extra B vitamins?

I believe mosquitoes(& other insects as well) like to attack those who're deficient......?

FWIW

thanks guys
we dont have any bromeliads so theres no water collection there
we do have a big pond but its full of fish, can I throw those moskito dunk donuts things in there w.o harming the fish??

We don't spray any chemicals so the misting system is a big no for us, especially since we are about to set up a beehive in our yard.

I tried the sheet of bounce thing yesterday and it actually worked WAY WAY better than OFF spray- lasted about 35 minutes, gave me enough time to take care of the chickens w/o donating a pint.
Problem is I think you need to use a brand new sheet every time, cause I reused the same sheet later in the day and it didn't work at all.
carolb_ I take a complete B supplement 3 times a week (helps stave off bells palsy)

goldendpond, what insecticide bracelets are you referring to? Ive never seen em around here.

As far as I can read, the mosquito donut doesn't effect anything but mosquitos.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mosquito donut

There is also lubber season and lovebug season. lol

I've been told to put a few coffee grinds in the bromeliad cups to keep them out. And I float a plastic coffee can in my water containers outside. The can keeps floating around and the female won't lay eggs in moving water.

I feel your pain, auryn!
Normally I water my potted plants and orchids on the back patio, each morning. Because I had to work yesterday morning, I watered in the early evening.
Thought I'd tend the yard and plants, then take a swim.
I had just begun to hand-water when from out of nowhere came a kazillion mosssqueetoes! (LOL, but not really.)
I jumped in the pool, which obviously helped, but they STILL swarmed around my head, and bit the poop out of my face! AAAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH!

I have about 30 itchy welts today that are driving me crazy!!!

I believe, tho, that my problem literally lies beneath the decking. When I water, the water must sit underneath...a perfect breeding ground!

I suppose I will move my plants next time before watering and give the area under the deck a chance to dry out.
Maybe that will help.

In talking to numerous neighbors, it has become apparent that they only covet MY yard.
I feel so blessed.
NOT!

Isn't it the carbon (????) that we breathe out that attracts the mosquitos.
Since we can't hold our breath the whole time we are outside,
we need to masked the it.
I've heard of the dryer sheets and they do work pretty good.
Also sprinkling baby powder on you will work as good, too.
I've tried the lemon scented soap in a piepan.
They go for their last swim it.
My pool kills off hundreds a night - knats, too.
It's the chlorine that does them in.
As for herbs, I used to always used rosemary.
Rubbing it and than rubbing my arms and legs,
but than my husband thinks I'm cooking some great dish for dinner!

I liked Cedercide when it was on the market.
Now I just buy a bag of cedar chips (animal bedding)
and sprinkle a handful or two around where
I'm working and that seems to work for a little while.

Sprays are my last resort. I have cardinals nesting, a turtle and fish........cheryl

I have 2 Mosquito Skeeter vacs from blue rhino working on my yard right now....they work well and definately help keep the mosquitoes at a reasonable level but dont expect them to eliminate mosquitoes completely. i still get areas where they can be bothersome though. If you have areas around your house that have dense plants and alot of architectural details the mosquitoes tend to stay there. My neighbor has the Mosquito Magnet brand next to me and it works about the same as mine....but the Mosquito Magnet brand is about twice as much $$$ as the Blue rhino ones. Also I have about an acre and a quarter and I use 2 machines rated at handling one acre each.

I just checked out the Mosquito Magnet website. Here's what they said:

Will the Mosquito Magnet® capture bees, moths, butterflies, ladybugs or other beneficial insects?
No. Blood seeking insects have receptors in their maxillary palps (mouths) that sense carbon dioxide. Non-blood seeking insects, without these receptors, are not attracted or harmed.

Hmmmm, I have to wonder if this is too good to be true! I don't condone the use of sprays either, but if they truly don't affect beneficial insects, at least the impact of this spray isn't too broad.

Jane

Avon products (skin so soft) ?? I am in Dr Phillips, Orlando and we live on Sand Lake. I have not had a single bite.