From this article (more links in the article)- "Some of the brand names BTI is sold under include Skeetal, Vectobac, Mosquito Attack, Gnatrol, and Bactimos. I found my big yellow plastic shaker jug of 'Dexol Mosquito Free Granules' at a local hardware store, and I've seen the granules and dunks at lots of garden centers. They're widely available via mail-order too; Mosquito Zapper is one of many companies that sells both. Here's the link [see article] to the granules. Here's the link to the dunks. Gardens Alive also carries BTI in granular form inside of cool little pouches under the 'No-Squirto' brand name (I don't name 'em; I just report 'em, folks)." Brenda

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

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

Contolling mosquitoes is a multi-stepped ordeal, to tell the truth. And what works for some might not do the trick for others. I'll start the list of suggestions of things that I KNOW work for me, and hopefully others will chime in with some good advice. ~ Go through your own yard carefully, eliminating all sources of standing water, no matter how small. Even the water that collects in plant saucers can be a breeding ground. Keep bird baths cleaned and changed at least every two or three days; use mosquito dunks in ponds or other water features. ~ There are many effective topical repellents on the market. Be careful of products with a lot of DEET as the active ingredient, as they can be quite toxic for some people (especially youngsters). Repellents can be sprayed on your clothes and hats, as well as your body. Just be sure to read the label to see any warnings. I like the products made with natural plant oils such as eucalyptus, citronella, atc. ~Cover the skin. ~Avoid going outside when mosquitoes are at their worst. ~ Employ a good fan or two in sitting areas. ~I've heard some folks say that incense really helps. ~I find that plain granular Adolph's meat tenderizer, made into a paste and applied to the bite right after it occurs really, really helps stop the itching and swelling of an insect bite. Works for fire ants, too. Do NOT use one of those bug zapper things. If they actually attract mosquitoes, that's not what you want. Don't spray your entire yard with pesticides in order to kill a few mosquitoes. Indiscriminate spraying can make the problem worse, and can also target insects, animals, and birds you don't wish to harm. (And people, too.) And remember, you cannot 'rid' your yard of mosquitoes. Your best hope will be to keep their population down to a minimum by eliminating their breeding areas. Then, it won't be such a challenge keep ourselves unattractive to these little pests.