http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/16/science/a-low-tech-mosquito-deterrent.html?_r=0

Timely article in the Science section of the Times this morning. It seems one of the most effective ways to keep mosquitos away is an oscillating fan. Mosquitos can't fly into even a slight breeze, and the fan disperses the CO2 that attracts them. Article claims a small fan works better than any chemical repellant.

Huh.

Intersting article, Tracy. Thanks.

They get into the house, no matter how we try to prevent it, and even with going around and swatting them several times a day, I still miss a few. So I've been sleeping with a fan on low speed on my nightstand for quite a while. The minute I turn it off, I hear the dreaded "BBBBZZZZZZZZZZ." How is it possible for such a tiny insect to make so much noise??? But with the fan on, they don't seem to land on me.

I did a little checking into the CO2 traps today. Seems the cheapest ones are $300-plus. I'm not sure how much of an area they cover, they probably come in different sizes, but I'd probably need two or three in my yard, so it's pretty cost-prohibitive. Plus, I'd have extension cords running all over my yard. But I bet they'd work great for a small space like a deck or patio.

So today we put Mosquito Dunks in the water hole, sprayed the yard with a Cutter product that you hook up to your garden hose, and put out the bug zapper. I understand the controversy about those, but when I've used it in the past, I've put a piece of plywood under it to see what exactly it was killing, and in my case, it was about 95 percent mosquitos.

In any event, I'm desperate, so I'm throwing everything I can at them. The dogs and I are feeling like prisoners in our own home these days. I'll try to remember to let you guys know how it goes.

Controversy aside, Cheri- I throw everything I have at them too. Last summer I nearly lost a very good friend to West Niles even though she was very careful about repelling those little buggers. It was then that we decided that any side effects down the road would be dealt with but we were not messing around with W.N.

We were kayak camping in the boundary waters area of Minnesota and had a hatch of hundreds of mosquitos come out of the water right in front of us. We thought we were going to be eaten alive. A swarm of dragonflies showed up and ate every last one of those mosquitos. They were even picking the mosquitos right off our arms. It was an incredible experience. Not exactly sure how to encourage dragonflies but they were very effective.

 Quote: Cathy Goessman

We were kayak camping in the boundary waters area of Minnesota and had a hatch of hundreds of mosquitos come out of the water right in front of us. We thought we were going to be eaten alive. A swarm of dragonflies showed up and ate every last one of those mosquitos. They were even picking the mosquitos right off our arms. It was an incredible experience. Not exactly sure how to encourage dragonflies but they were very effective.

Wow, that does sound like a very amazing experience. I've always liked dragonflies.

I know it's only been about 24 hours, but so far, our three-pronged attack of Mosquito Dunks, Cutter yard spray, and the bug zapper has worked wonders. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Now I just have to find time to chase down all the ones still hiding in the house.