It’s summer and time to get out into the garden and deal to those pests that are attacking your prized plants and crops.  But what about the pests that attack you?  Yes, that’s right mosquitoes!  Unfortunately along with summer comes the buzz AND bite of mosquitoes – and usually in large numbers.  While male mosquitoes are actually sensitive vegetarians, living on nectar and plant juices; beware the female mosquito – she’s after your blood.

Female mosquitoes need the protein found in blood to develop their eggs, and they love to feed on warm blooded creatures, especially humans.  Selecting their next meal is relatively easy for these bloodthirsty biters who use receptors to spot movement, and can detect the smell of CO2 in a person’s breath from as far away as 50 meters.  Activities like gardening that make us sweat and breathe more heavily also make us prime targets.

Repel the Invaders – Spray it On!
Savvy gardeners have been planting geraniums in their gardens and window boxes for centuries, using the natural properties of the flowers to repel bugs. Data now exists that proves the use of geraniums is more than a tradition passed down from generation to generation. Geraniol, a powerful ingredient extracted from geranium oil through a unique refining process, does indeed provide a natural – and extremely effective – insect repellent.  

According to laboratory and field studies by the University of Florida in Gainesville, Geraniol has been proven effective in repelling a wide variety of insects, including mosquitoes, house flies, stable flies, horn flies, cockroaches, fire ants, fleas, gnats, dog ticks, lone star ticks, and no-see-ums.  A range of products including sprays, wristbands and wipes is now available and sold under the BugBand brand.

Light Up
Citronella is another well-known natural mosquito repellent and in addition to lotions and sprays, the oils from the plant are extracted and used to make candles. Unlike a number of mosquito devices which are placed around the perimeter of a yard to attract and kill mosquitoes, candles keep them away from you.  Place candles surrounding the area you want to protect; on your patio, balcony or deck….just make sure to put the citronella candle upwind of you.  And a simple rule of thumb – if you can smell the candle it’s doing its job, if you can’t, light another. One of the newest mosquito repelling candles on the market from Bite-Lite™ contains citronella together with the pleasant aroma of lemongrass and spearmint. 

Foggers and Sprays
Yard foggers and sprays are another way to rid your yard of mosquitoes; however the use of insecticides in agriculture has often been implicated as contributing to resistance in mosquito populations (CDC)   Plus they only create a temporary fix and typically they’re not mosquito-specific; killing everything including bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects.

In fact a lot of our summer bugs are actually good for the garden, because they form part of the food chain. For instance many are pollinators, and pollinate our flowers and crops. So if you do spray insecticides, you may end up killing a lot of the beneficial bugs you actually want (and need) out there.

Spraying garlic to keep insects away is not something new; farmers have been doing it for generations.  Mosquito Barrier is a strong liquid garlic spray made from very potent or ‘super garlic’ cloves.  Since mosquitoes are soft-bodied insects, the garlic juice can be very toxic to them in increased concentrations.  However the juice is not harmful to humans, pets or plants – but to mosquitoes it can be deadly.

Attract and Kill
Mosquito traps are quickly becoming a gardener’s best friend.  It’s possible to trap literally thousands of mosquitoes in these mosquito machines without harming the environment, your children, or your pets.  Mega-Catch™ make some of best mosquito traps on the market, they’re eco-friendly and don’t require the use of harmful chemicals, fogs or sprays to kill mosquitoes.  They work by mimicking the smell and characteristics of prey, fooling mosquitoes into sensing a blood meal close at hand.  When mosquitoes get near, a powerful fan sweeps them into the trap’s catch container where they die.  These remarkable traps are an affordable and effective solution for getting rid of mosquitoes on a large scale, for a long period of time.  Because one thing that makes a pest a pest is that they’re really good at re-invading an area; so to get rid of mosquitoes you need to think long term solutions. 

Another way to control mosquitoes is to stop them in the larval stage. Mosquito dunks have proven their worth in eliminating mosquitoes by killing mosquito larvae before they can mature into biting adults.  Float a dunk in the water garden, pond or rain barrel, and every other place water accumulates around your home. 

Choose a mosquito dunk that contains natural Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis (B.t.i.).   This is a bacterium toxic to mosquito and black and psychodid fly larvae but completely non-toxic and safe for pets and family.

Don’t Be a Blood Bank
Mosquitoes have well documented color preferences, so gardening gear should comprise of light colors as opposed to dark. And cover up as much skin as possible; wear  long sleeves and pants, shoes and socks instead of sandals and wear a hat to keep mosquito bites off the warm, top part of your head.

Combining these tips with other sensible mosquito control strategies around your home, plus a mosquito trap or two should make for a family-friendly backyard and provide the best overall protection for the constant gardener amongst you.

Top Ten Tips for Barbecue Bliss:

1.         If you want to avoid an onslaught of mosquito bites at your next outdoor gathering, try relaxing on the nearest deck chair.  Mosquitoes sense movement and head towards it.  When you pant from exertion, the smell of carbon dioxide (C02) from heavy breathing draws them even closer.  Mosquitoes can smell their dinner from an impressive distance of up to 50 meters which doesn’t bode well for people emitting large quantities of C02.

2.         Lactic acid (secreted by sweat glands) is another mosquito favorite, and is one of the reasons why those people who work up a sweat, waving their arms about to defend themselves will become even more of a target.

 3.         Diet.  Larger people tend to give off more carbon dioxide.  This is also why mosquitoes typically prefer munching on adults to small children.

4.         Family planning.  Pregnant women are also at increased risk as they produce a greater-than-normal amount of exhaled C02.  So if you want to spend your summer outdoors put your pregnancy on hold ‘til winter or fall.

5.         Some mosquitoes home in on the fragrances in soaps, shampoos and colognes – replace your usual eau de parfum with some eau de Repellent instead.  Deet, Cutter Advanced (Picaridin) and Repel are all endorsed by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control.

6.         Spray a little permethrin onto your clothing – it’s primarily a fast-acting insecticide and has some repellent activity as well.  (However, never apply permethrin directly to the skin)

 7.         If you or your guests are blonde– consider a hat. There is some research that indicates the reason mosquitoes seem attracted to blondes is that they are more likely to stand out in a crowd.  Apparently this applies to redheads as well!

8.         Ban dark colors.  Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors, not only black, because dark colors absorb heat. Mosquitoes have sophisticated and highly sensitive heat sensors, and tend to be more attracted to victims dressed in black or dark colors for this reason.

9.         Stick to wearing light colored clothing which is less attractive to some mosquito species.  Long sleeves, long pants as well as shoes and socks will give added protection.

10.       Provide mosquitoes with a meal replacement.  A mosquito trap that takes advantage of mosquitoes’ sensory abilities by tricking them with features that mimic the smells and visual stimuli associated with people are the most effective.  The idea is to make the trap more attractive to a mosquito than a human by emitting Octenol, lactic acid, heat, light, moisture or C02 – or a combination of those to lure mosquitoes.  The mosquitoes come in to check out the prospective meal, get sucked in by the fan then trapped in a container where they die. 

However, operating your trap for the first time in anticipation of instant results will be disappointing, so don’t set up your new trap on the eve of an outdoor party or BBQ and expect it to keep the mosquitoes away.  If you don’t want you or your guests to be a mosquito magnet - plan ahead and operate the trap for several weeks in advance of outdoor social occasions. Source

 Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have been independently and scientifically tested and were developed to provide long term mosquito management. They interrupt the breeding cycle thereby reducing mosquito populations and the risk of exposure to the diseases they carry – helping make your backyard a safer, more enjoyable place over summer.

They”re also known as  ‘no-see-ums’ in North America, as ‘punkies’ in the Northeast; ‘five-O’s in Florida and Alabama (refers to their 5 pm biting habit), ‘pinyon gnats’ in the Southwest, and ‘moose flies’ in Canada.

Less than 1/8 inch long, biting midges are a swarming species and belong to the insect order Diptera, (two-winged flies) family Ceratopogonidae, genus Culicoides.  Just like their close relative the mosquito, warm weather will bring out the biting midges, or “no-see-ums” as their tiny size has nicknamed them.

In the U.S. biting midges are primarily regarded as a nuisance.  The four most important, in order of their pest ranking, are Culicoides furens, C.mississippiensis, C.hollensis and C.barbosai.  Like other blood feeding Diptera i.e. mosquitoes, Culicoides species are vectors or disease carriers that can cause harm to both humans and animals.  Midge bites are as painful and irritating as any mosquito bites, usually starting as a small red welt or water-filled blister that itches. Once scratched, the welt can break open and bleed, but the itching usually continues.  Allergic or sensitive individuals can develop long-lasting painful and itchy lesions. Bite treatments recommended include topical cortisone creams and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin or ibuprofen

When the biting midge snacks on livestock this can result in the transmission of a disease called bluetongue, which is found in cattle and sheep. Many countries that are bluetongue free prohibit the movement of livestock from bluetongue endemic regions.  The annual economic damage in lost trade is in the millions of dollars. 

No Money for Midge Control

No-see-ums are especially troublesome in coastal areas, and particularly abundant around mangrove swamps and salt marshes.  They love Florida.  With its temperate climate and regular rainfall, Florida provides ideal habitat for both mosquitoes and midges, and is home to 47 species of the little biters; only seven of which are significant human pests.  Unfortunately mosquito control districts in Florida are not funded to provide control of biting midges.

Insecticide spraying has had limited success. Targeting the adult population is extremely difficult because no-see-ums reproduce at such a rapid rate that there’s no way to keep up.  It would require insecticide applications on a daily basis in some areas, and this just isn’t efficient or environmentally sound.  Many government agencies that provide mosquito control services, receive a number of complaints and requests for help in dealing with biting midges. However, most of the programs are not mandated or allowed to respond by providing any form of midge control. Fortunately the private sector has come up with some pretty effective solutions, because it’s a case of DIY prevention and protection if you want to spend your summer enjoying the outdoors. 

Protection

Bite protection is essential when dealing with no-see-ums. If you can’t (or don’t want to) stay indoors, wear light colored clothing; preferably long pants and long-sleeved shirts, shoes and socks, and apply insect repellents when venturing out.  Typically those containing DEET are also labeled for use against no-see-ums. However check first and apply according to the directions on the label.

Around the home, installing window and door screens will exclude these pests.  However, as most biting midges can pass through 16-mesh insect wire screen and netting, a smaller mesh size, is required and becomes even more effective when sprayed with a coating of repellent.

C02 Trapping the most effective method

To make an actual dent in their numbers, trapping is one of the most effective methods of dealing to these little bloodsuckers. Research has shown that biting midges, like many species of mosquito, are attracted to C02.  However it’s not the only cue they follow, they’re also attracted to light, especially UV light.  The Ultra mosquito trap by Mega-Catch™ appears to be one of the safest, most effective traps on the market, and one that combines both C02 with UV light capability.   Mega-Catch™ traps have been scientifically tested and proven to kill mosquitoes, biting midges (no-see-ums) black flies and sand flies, and more importantly, do so without the use of insecticides, fogs or sprays.  USDA entomologist, Dr Daniel Kline conducted comparison tests using Mega-Catch™ Ultra traps in the Lower Suwannee Wildlife Refuge, on the west coast of Florida, and recorded the capture of 10,000 biting midges just in one day.  Biting midges are prolific at this site and cause extreme annoyance to both nearby residents and tourists.

Excerpt from Test Results

DATE: 07/06/02

POSITION: C-2

TREATMENT: Mega-Catch Ultra Wet Catch Method

MOSQUITOES: 6887

BITING MIDGES : 10,000                   
Read more: http://www.megacatch.com/testresults_dankline_ultra.html#ixzz0PEpILjt7

The user friendly design of the Ultra, means the insects are trapped in a catch bag or wet container for quick, clean and easy disposal; you won’t even get blood on your hands

Good Neighbor Day.  It’s definitely a good thing.  Being good neighbors is an important part of the social fiber that makes America so great. 

So say thank you to a good neighbor and be one yourself.  Nominate your neighbor for one of Mega-Catch™’s top performing Premier Mosquito Traps (MSRP $249.00) and win an Alpha Trap (MSRP $99.00) for yourself – because the more traps in your street the better. 

We know that mosquitoes will travel to get blood.  There are over 3,500 mosquito species worldwide with 175 of them in the U.S.  Your yard could harbor as many as 30 different species while your neighbor’s yard 300 feet away might have completely different species. 

For details on how to enter go to : http://www.mommypr.com/?p=8733

Auckland, NZ (PRWEB) August 14, 2009 — The patent-pending, Mega-Catch™ 3000 combo lure developed by and exclusive to Mega-Catch™, is designed to enhance trap performance and increase capture rates. The EPA approved combination lure incorporates synthetic Octenol, lactic acid and other ingredients specifically formulated, then blended to attract the Asian Tiger and other nuisance mosquitoes, sand flies, black flies and biting midges (no-see-ums).

Mega-Catch 3000 Combination Lure

The use of attractant lures in mosquito traps has been shown to significantly increase capture rates of most mosquito species. Mega-Catch™ report that in tests conducted using traps baited with a combination of Octenol and lactic acid, the capture of various mosquito species including the Asian tiger, was two to three times greater than traps baited with Octenol alone.

“We feel that you can use attractants in a trapping strategy to divert mosquitoes away from biting people,” says USDA entomologist Dr Daniel Kline. “If you can keep them from biting people you can stop the disease transmission”.

Globally there are over 3,500 different species of mosquitoes, 175 of them in the U.S. However it’s the Asian Tiger that is widely regarded as the most invasive mosquito species in the world. Since its accidental introduction into the United States through a shipment of used car tires in Houston back in 1985, the Asian Tiger mosquito has continued to flourish. Stealthy and resilient, they have thwarted most efforts at control and eradication.

By combining rigorous research and technological innovation, Mega-Catch™ claim to have produced one of the best mosquito traps on the market, and significantly, one that captures the Asian Tiger. Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia advised on and tested Mega-Catch™ trap designs in South East Asia. Tests that he carried out in a reserve forest at Minden Campus in the Penang Island caused him to conclude that Mega-Catch™ traps were effective against the Asian Tiger mosquito in outdoor conditions in tropical environments.

The Asian Tiger mosquito is medically significant because of its aggressive daytime human-biting behavior and ability to transmit debilitating, even deadly diseases with a single bite. In laboratory settings the Asian Tiger has been found to be a successful vector of over 30 arboviruses including Dengue fever, Chikungunya, various strains of Encephalitis and West Nile virus – a serious, life-altering and even fatal disease.

In 2008 alone the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 1356 cases of West Nile throughout the U.S. resulting in 44 deaths. Expert opinion suggests that West Nile is now well established and is probably here to stay. Because there is no vaccine, and no specific treatment, the best way to prevent West Nile virus is by taking personal precautions like wearing insect repellent, and reducing the number of mosquitoes around the home with products like mosquito traps – daily trapping during the season interrupts breeding cycles, dramatically reducing mosquito numbers.

“Our traps have been subjected to exhaustive field tests in some of the world’s worst mosquito-infested areas,” reports Mega-Catch™ General Manager Mike Bremner. “From that we’ve produced one of the safest, most effective and environmentally friendly mosquito traps available,” says Bremner.

The company maintains their traps also provide superior performance, more versatile features, proven reliability, and a customer-friendly design. More importantly, in independent testing, the Mega-Catch™ brand usually seems to come out on top, and the results are impressive – thousands of mosquitoes captured in a single night, in many cases. At those rates, it only takes about two months to collapse a local mosquito population, reducing the risk of West Nile virus or any other mosquito-borne diseases.

Unlike conventional mosquito traps, Mega-Catch™ traps employ a wide range of visual stimuli to attract mosquitoes. This is particularly important in the case of daytime biters like the Asian Tiger mosquito which rely on visual cues, as well as chemical cues, to find their targets.

The Mega-Catch™ 3000 combo lure has been designed to enhance the existing design features of all Mega-Catch™ traps so as to increase capture rates of targeted mosquito species like the Asian tiger. And with July, August and September regarded as peak mosquito reproduction months West Nile season is officially here!

“This new lure will literally be a godsend for those people living in states where the Asian Tiger is now rampant,” predicts Bremner.   

Mega-Catch™ is a member of the American Mosquito Control Association and a responsible manufacturer who recommends using mosquito traps in conjunction with other sensible control measures designed to manage mosquito problems.

There are two ways you can make money with Mega-Catch™: 

1. Approved Affiliate Program

Simply promote Mega-Catch™ products on an approved website and earn commission for the sales generated.  Commission is calculated on all confirmed sales generated by the Affiliate’s website.  Turn valuable website traffic into income now by joining the Mega-Catch™ Approved Affiliate Program.  Find out more @ http://www.megacatch.com/affiliates.html

2. Approved Drop Ship Dealer Program

Mega-Catch™ also offers a drop ship dealer program for on-line sales.  Just some of the benefits offered approved Dealers include:

• Products purchased at wholesale prices
• Shipping arranged direct to the customer

More info & application form available on-line:  http://www.megacatch.com/dealers.html

                              IT’S EASY – SIGNUP IS FREE – START EARNING NOW!

If you attract mosquitoes like a magnet, then it’s no longer a mystery, and you can blame your parents, and their parents for it. That’s right, one in ten people are highly attractive to mosquitoes and scientists have discovered that a massive 85% of susceptibility to mosquito bites is genetics.  They’ve also identified certain elements in our body chemistry that make mosquitoes swarm closer.

Mosquitoes with gourmet tendencies

Blood seeking female mosquitoes are drawn to their human targets by a combination of odors from the skin and breath (C02).  Mosquitoes with gourmet tendencies! They can smell their dinner – that’s you – from an impressive distance of up to 50 meters which isn’t good news for people who tend to give off higher amounts of carbon dioxide; larger people and pregnant women for instance!

Mosquitoes can also detect heat and movement and are strongly attracted to human sweat. Armpit sweat is more attractive to mosquitoes than sweat from other parts of the body.  So if you don’t want to become a mosquito attractant and invite an onslaught of mosquito bites, best advice, become a lounge lizard or offer them up an alternative target. 

Because once they do start to bite, a feeding frenzy occurs as the biting mosquitoes apparently release volatile pheromones that attract yet more mosquitoes (M.W.Service, Mosquito Ecology Field Sampling Methods, 1993).

Amongst mosquitoes, it’s only the female that bites. And she will continue to bite and draw blood until her abdomen is full. If she is interrupted before she is full, she will just fly to the next available person. After filling up, she will rest for two or three days before laying her eggs, which can be as many as 300 at a time.   Then she’s ready to repeat the cycle; up to 10 times during her lifetime – that’s 3000 potential offspring!

Mosquitoes like the Coast

Where you live is also another factor to consider – some of the worst mosquito populations occur along coastal areas.

“Florida would be uninhabitable without mosquito control,” according to mosquito guru, Joseph Conlon, technical advisor for the AMCA (American Mosquito Control Association) a New Jersey based non profit group.  However being several miles inland does not guarantee safety either.  They’ll fly 40 miles for a meal according to Conlon (WebMD, July 7, 2009).  In fact there is only one area in the world guaranteed mosquito free, and that’s Antarctica.   However, relocating there may be considered extreme especially when there are alternatives.

Traps – provide an alternative target

One of the best ways to help keep a yard clear of those shrewd summertime pests is to use a mosquito trap. When placed strategically near breeding spots, “they have knocked [mosquito] populations down,” Conlon told WebMD.

Mosquito traps that take advantage of mosquitoes’ sensory abilities by tricking them with features that mimic the smells and visual stimuli associated with people are the most effective.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps are among the highest rated and most trusted brand of trap on the market.  In independent testing Mega-Catch™ traps have been shown to capture thousands of mosquitoes in a single night.   (To view the original independent report click on Comparison of Mosquito Species and Numbers Caught in 8 Commercial Mosquito Traps to go to the Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center (PHEREC) of Florida A & M University website.

When Mega-Catch™ field tested their Ultra trap in Cairns, QLD. Australia, the researchers concluded that the trap’s appearance might also have contributed to its success – a dark, well-defined object of similar size to a small human, calf or dog.  Because at least some mosquito species use visual cues to locate targets the researchers concluded that it was possible that the physical design of the trap acted as a further mosquito attractant.

“It was noticed on many occasions that mosquitoes would land on the trap prior to it being switched on.”  Dr Scott A. Ritchie, PhD (University of Florida). Read more @ http://www.megacatch.com/testresults_ScottRitchie_ultra.html

There’s nothing you can do (yet) about being one of those genetically susceptible individuals who attract mosquitoes like a magnet.  But you can do something about where you live and your environment.  If you don’t want to move to Antarctica, try using a mosquito trap to help you get rid of mosquitoes from your yard.  When set up properly, just one or two of these ingenious devices has the potential to kill thousands of mosquitoes, reducing the risk of West Nile virus or any other mosquito-borne diseases.

Mosquitoes have been around for 170 million years.  So if you want to outsmart them think traps!

T          Traps used daily will interrupt breeding cycles & dramatically reduce mosquito numbers

R          Repellents like DEET and Picaridin provide excellent personal protection

A         Avoid the outdoors during periods of peak mosquito activity – typically dawn and dusk

P          Protective clothing like light colored, long-sleeved shirts & pants give added defense

S          Standing, stagnant water are potential mosquito nurseries and should be eliminated