Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These PPs suggesting marigolds, citronella candles, fans, and encouraging birds/bees obviously do not understand the scale and aggressiveness of the mosquitos we're discussing here. This is not a normal mosquito scenario - a bite every 8-10 minutes when you're sitting on the deck for a bit, let's say. Or ones that can be mitigated with common sense options like the above.

Those of us dealing with THESE mosquitos have tried all that already. We are not exaggerating when we mention getting multiple bites between our front doors and cars. Mosquitos that rush the door crack when you open it just for 15 seconds to walk in or out. Literally getting in through a window screen that does not have tears or gaps in the side, but actually squeezing through the grid. I get bit through my leggings.

Sadly, I can only commiserate. We've been unwilling to spray, mainly because we don't want to harm the rest of the ecosystem but also because hearing other's experience, it doesn't even work that well anyway.

We've had some luck with the Thermacell Mosquito Repellers but they have to have 15 mins to warm up, then need replacement pads regularly so it doesn't help for spontaneous or quick trips outside. And we've tried dunks recently, hard to tell if they're helping at all yet.

I’m one of the people who has suggested this and yes, I do. I’m saying that the scale of loss of habitat for native birds and insects is horrifying and will take a similar scale of response. If we want the native birds to return - the ones who are around during the day when those godawful tiger mosquitos are active - there has to be food for them. I’m not talking about sticking in a bird feeder; I’m talking about wholesale redesign of yards. That’s the scale that will affect this.

People want their environmentally dead lawns though. They want boring hydrangeas and some annuals for color. What they do not want to do is address the parts of our built environment that have decimated sensitive wildlife. The entire ecosystem is out of whack.

And I have left the DC area but when I lived there (in a crap townhouse surrounded by the obligatory plants I mentioned above and no ability to change them), they were way more aggressive than one bite every 8 to 10 minutes. And I’m pretty sure the PP from a tropical area probably dealt with more mosquitos wherever s/he came from originally.

NP. What can we do with our lawns instead? I have recently removed my grass and installed a veggie/herb garden. What other items should I plant?

Native plants.

+1
And again, not one or two in a lonely stand surrounded by mulch. Borders, if not whole swaths of what was lawn and on your neighbors’ places, too.

Anonymous wrote:At my in-laws place in Minnesota the county sends helicopters around to kill their "state bird". They are so bad if you live near the lake but it does help

Lake country? The helicopters are just dropping granule version of the mosquito dunks. And northern Minnesota is kind of where mosquitos live. By turns it’s rural, heavily laked/marshy and wooded.

At my in-laws place in Minnesota the county sends helicopters around to kill their "state bird". They are so bad if you live near the lake but it does help

It's better this week. I might finally be able to unplug the electric mosquito zappers I have sitting inside next to the exterior doors. In the middle of the summer they were getting 5 or 10 each night (VERY satisfying sound), but now we're down to just 1 here and there.

We've tried everything -- native plants, no spraying, lawn is natural, dunks everywhere, gutters are spotless. The problem is our neighbors haven't so there's only so much we can do other than move.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These PPs suggesting marigolds, citronella candles, fans, and encouraging birds/bees obviously do not understand the scale and aggressiveness of the mosquitos we're discussing here. This is not a normal mosquito scenario - a bite every 8-10 minutes when you're sitting on the deck for a bit, let's say. Or ones that can be mitigated with common sense options like the above.

Those of us dealing with THESE mosquitos have tried all that already. We are not exaggerating when we mention getting multiple bites between our front doors and cars. Mosquitos that rush the door crack when you open it just for 15 seconds to walk in or out. Literally getting in through a window screen that does not have tears or gaps in the side, but actually squeezing through the grid. I get bit through my leggings.

Sadly, I can only commiserate. We've been unwilling to spray, mainly because we don't want to harm the rest of the ecosystem but also because hearing other's experience, it doesn't even work that well anyway.

We've had some luck with the Thermacell Mosquito Repellers but they have to have 15 mins to warm up, then need replacement pads regularly so it doesn't help for spontaneous or quick trips outside. And we've tried dunks recently, hard to tell if they're helping at all yet.

I’m one of the people who has suggested this and yes, I do. I’m saying that the scale of loss of habitat for native birds and insects is horrifying and will take a similar scale of response. If we want the native birds to return - the ones who are around during the day when those godawful tiger mosquitos are active - there has to be food for them. I’m not talking about sticking in a bird feeder; I’m talking about wholesale redesign of yards. That’s the scale that will affect this.

People want their environmentally dead lawns though. They want boring hydrangeas and some annuals for color. What they do not want to do is address the parts of our built environment that have decimated sensitive wildlife. The entire ecosystem is out of whack.

And I have left the DC area but when I lived there (in a crap townhouse surrounded by the obligatory plants I mentioned above and no ability to change them), they were way more aggressive than one bite every 8 to 10 minutes. And I’m pretty sure the PP from a tropical area probably dealt with more mosquitos wherever s/he came from originally.

NP. What can we do with our lawns instead? I have recently removed my grass and installed a veggie/herb garden. What other items should I plant?

Native plants.

Anonymous wrote:These PPs suggesting marigolds, citronella candles, fans, and encouraging birds/bees obviously do not understand the scale and aggressiveness of the mosquitos we're discussing here. This is not a normal mosquito scenario - a bite every 8-10 minutes when you're sitting on the deck for a bit, let's say. Or ones that can be mitigated with common sense options like the above.

Those of us dealing with THESE mosquitos have tried all that already. We are not exaggerating when we mention getting multiple bites between our front doors and cars. Mosquitos that rush the door crack when you open it just for 15 seconds to walk in or out. Literally getting in through a window screen that does not have tears or gaps in the side, but actually squeezing through the grid. I get bit through my leggings.

Sadly, I can only commiserate. We've been unwilling to spray, mainly because we don't want to harm the rest of the ecosystem but also because hearing other's experience, it doesn't even work that well anyway.

We've had some luck with the Thermacell Mosquito Repellers but they have to have 15 mins to warm up, then need replacement pads regularly so it doesn't help for spontaneous or quick trips outside. And we've tried dunks recently, hard to tell if they're helping at all yet.

Exactly. We have aggressive mosquitoes in our small yard. Thermacell is the only thing that works for me. If I have to make a quick trip out I spray deet on my clothes (long sleeve long pants no matter how hot).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These PPs suggesting marigolds, citronella candles, fans, and encouraging birds/bees obviously do not understand the scale and aggressiveness of the mosquitos we're discussing here. This is not a normal mosquito scenario - a bite every 8-10 minutes when you're sitting on the deck for a bit, let's say. Or ones that can be mitigated with common sense options like the above.

Those of us dealing with THESE mosquitos have tried all that already. We are not exaggerating when we mention getting multiple bites between our front doors and cars. Mosquitos that rush the door crack when you open it just for 15 seconds to walk in or out. Literally getting in through a window screen that does not have tears or gaps in the side, but actually squeezing through the grid. I get bit through my leggings.

Sadly, I can only commiserate. We've been unwilling to spray, mainly because we don't want to harm the rest of the ecosystem but also because hearing other's experience, it doesn't even work that well anyway.

We've had some luck with the Thermacell Mosquito Repellers but they have to have 15 mins to warm up, then need replacement pads regularly so it doesn't help for spontaneous or quick trips outside. And we've tried dunks recently, hard to tell if they're helping at all yet.

I’m one of the people who has suggested this and yes, I do. I’m saying that the scale of loss of habitat for native birds and insects is horrifying and will take a similar scale of response. If we want the native birds to return - the ones who are around during the day when those godawful tiger mosquitos are active - there has to be food for them. I’m not talking about sticking in a bird feeder; I’m talking about wholesale redesign of yards. That’s the scale that will affect this.

People want their environmentally dead lawns though. They want boring hydrangeas and some annuals for color. What they do not want to do is address the parts of our built environment that have decimated sensitive wildlife. The entire ecosystem is out of whack.

And I have left the DC area but when I lived there (in a crap townhouse surrounded by the obligatory plants I mentioned above and no ability to change them), they were way more aggressive than one bite every 8 to 10 minutes. And I’m pretty sure the PP from a tropical area probably dealt with more mosquitos wherever s/he came from originally.

NP. What can we do with our lawns instead? I have recently removed my grass and installed a veggie/herb garden. What other items should I plant?

Put in a screen porch.

Anonymous wrote:These PPs suggesting marigolds, citronella candles, fans, and encouraging birds/bees obviously do not understand the scale and aggressiveness of the mosquitos we're discussing here. This is not a normal mosquito scenario - a bite every 8-10 minutes when you're sitting on the deck for a bit, let's say. Or ones that can be mitigated with common sense options like the above.

Those of us dealing with THESE mosquitos have tried all that already. We are not exaggerating when we mention getting multiple bites between our front doors and cars. Mosquitos that rush the door crack when you open it just for 15 seconds to walk in or out. Literally getting in through a window screen that does not have tears or gaps in the side, but actually squeezing through the grid. I get bit through my leggings.

Sadly, I can only commiserate. We've been unwilling to spray, mainly because we don't want to harm the rest of the ecosystem but also because hearing other's experience, it doesn't even work that well anyway.

We've had some luck with the Thermacell Mosquito Repellers but they have to have 15 mins to warm up, then need replacement pads regularly so it doesn't help for spontaneous or quick trips outside. And we've tried dunks recently, hard to tell if they're helping at all yet.

I’m one of the people who has suggested this and yes, I do. I’m saying that the scale of loss of habitat for native birds and insects is horrifying and will take a similar scale of response. If we want the native birds to return - the ones who are around during the day when those godawful tiger mosquitos are active - there has to be food for them. I’m not talking about sticking in a bird feeder; I’m talking about wholesale redesign of yards. That’s the scale that will affect this.

People want their environmentally dead lawns though. They want boring hydrangeas and some annuals for color. What they do not want to do is address the parts of our built environment that have decimated sensitive wildlife. The entire ecosystem is out of whack.

And I have left the DC area but when I lived there (in a crap townhouse surrounded by the obligatory plants I mentioned above and no ability to change them), they were way more aggressive than one bite every 8 to 10 minutes. And I’m pretty sure the PP from a tropical area probably dealt with more mosquitos wherever s/he came from originally.

These PPs suggesting marigolds, citronella candles, fans, and encouraging birds/bees obviously do not understand the scale and aggressiveness of the mosquitos we're discussing here. This is not a normal mosquito scenario - a bite every 8-10 minutes when you're sitting on the deck for a bit, let's say. Or ones that can be mitigated with common sense options like the above.

Those of us dealing with THESE mosquitos have tried all that already. We are not exaggerating when we mention getting multiple bites between our front doors and cars. Mosquitos that rush the door crack when you open it just for 15 seconds to walk in or out. Literally getting in through a window screen that does not have tears or gaps in the side, but actually squeezing through the grid. I get bit through my leggings.

Sadly, I can only commiserate. We've been unwilling to spray, mainly because we don't want to harm the rest of the ecosystem but also because hearing other's experience, it doesn't even work that well anyway.

We've had some luck with the Thermacell Mosquito Repellers but they have to have 15 mins to warm up, then need replacement pads regularly so it doesn't help for spontaneous or quick trips outside. And we've tried dunks recently, hard to tell if they're helping at all yet.

Check to make sure there aren't any standing water near you.

My immidiate neighbors have a food forest in their backyard and they are fully organic. As a result, I have the birds, bees necessary to eat the mosquitos.

Anyways, I am an immigrant from a tropical country. I work a lot in my yard during the weekend, but I am always wearing long sleeve shirts, full pants tucked into socks, gloves, and a sunhat. I am frankly more worried about ticks than mosquitos. So I apply deet on my clothes, and I will strip out of them as soon as I step into the house and change into normal clothes.

If we are entertaining, usually a citronella tiki torch and a fan is what is needed. You can also make a homemade marigold spray (marigold petals and cilantro petals blended in water) and spray the yard. It works even with dried and wilted petals. Spray your yard and it just repels all kinds of bugs.