Sparked by the emergence of diseases in the U.S. like West Nile Virus and Dengue, consumer demand for mosquito control devices has increased along with the number of companies manufacturing mosquito traps.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have some impressive customer feedback, but even more convincing are the test results.

Mega-Catch™ in Malaysia

Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps were developed after an extensive worldwide testing program.  In early 2000 Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia was engaged to advise on and test Mega-Catch™ trap designs in South East Asia. One of the primary objectives was to develop a trap which would attract and capture the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), a voracious daytime biter and vector of over 30 arboviruses including West Nile Virus (WNV) and Dengue fever.  Tests carried out in a reserve forest at Minden Campus, University Sains Malaysia in the Penang Island led Professor Yap Heng to conclude that Mega-Catch™ was effective against the Asian tiger mosquito in outdoor  conditions in tropical environments.

Mega-Catch™ in the U.S.

1.Mega-Catch™ out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Pro and Mosquito Magnet® Residential

In 2001 the Mega-Catch™ ULTRA and Mosquito Magnet® Pro and Residential traps were put to the test in central Florida by USDA research entomologist Dr Daniel Kline.  The test was conducted over about three weeks at three different locations; a laboratory, a yard in a residential neighborhood and in a wildlife refuge. The catch varied by location, but the overall result was that the Mega-Catch™ trap captured about twice the number of Aedes aegypti – the yellow fever mosquito – and a larger general variety of other mosquitoes than did the Mosquito Magnet®.

“The studies included in this report were my first opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of the Mega-Catch™ trap,” USDA research entomologist Dr. Daniel Kline wrote. “In most cases, whether baited with CO₂ or not, it caught more mosquitoes than either model of Mosquito Magnet®.”

2. Mega-Catch™ ULTRA out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Liberty, Flowtron®, Dragon Fly, Lentek™, Mosquito Deleto and SonicWeb™

Dr J P Smith (Ph.D., B.C.E. Florida A&M University), J Walsh and R Huss conducted a study in the summer and fall of 2002 on the campus of the John A. Mulrennan Sr., Public Health Entomology Research & Education Center (PHEREC) of Florida A&M University, comparing eight commercially available mosquito traps.

There were significant differences in the numbers and species caught among the eight traps. The Mega-Catch™ ULTRA trap and the Mosquito Magnet® Liberty captured 2.5X to almost 3X more mosquitoes than the next best trap, the Lentek™ mosquito trap and 4X to 6X more than the Mosquito Deleto, Flowtron® PowerTrap and the DragonFly. The SonicWeb™ collected considerably fewer mosquitoes than any of the other traps.

To view the original independent report click 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.

Mega-Catch™ in Australia
3. ULTRA out-catches Mosquito Magnet® Pro

A study conducted in tropical Far North Queensland, Australia (Feb, 2004) again compared the performance of the Mega-Catch™  ULTRA which uses a variable quantity slow CO₂ gas release system against the Mosquito Magnet® Pro which produces carbon dioxide via combustion of propane.

Performed by Dr. Scott A. Ritchie, Ph.D. (University of Florida) and Dr. Craig R. Williams, Ph.D. (University of South Australia) the study concluded that the Mega-Catch™ ULTRA caught roughly fifty percent more mosquitoes on average per day than the Mosquito Magnet® Pro.

“The Mega-Catch™ ULTRA Mosquito Trap was the best performing mosquito trap in this study. Its physical design, coupled with the presence of CO₂ and other chemical and thermal attractants, make it highly effective in catching mosquitoes.  In this particular context, it was more successful than the Mosquito Magnet® Pro, which is also a very effective mosquito trap,” stated Dr. Scott Ritchie, Ph.D. University of Florida.

4. Mega-Catch™ Premier & Alpha prototype out-catches Mosquito MagnetÒ Defender

A further study (March, 2004) by the same researchers compared the mosquito catching ability of a series of commercially available mosquito traps including the  Mega-Catch™ Premier, Mega-Catch™ Alpha (proto-type), Mosquito Magnet® Defender, Dragonfly, Flowtron® Mosquito Power Trap MT 200, Lentek™ Mosquito Trap, SkeeterVac® SC1000, Mosquito Deleto 2200 System, SonicWeb™ and Lentek™ Ecotrap.

The Mega-Catch™ Premier Mosquito Trap, even without the use of carbon dioxide (CO₂₎, which had been marketed as the primary consumer standard for effective mosquito control, out-performed eight popular mosquito traps sold in the U.S  that use CO_2. The Mega-Catch™ Premier caught 16,120 mosquitoes over a 12-day period compared to its nearest competitor, Mosquito Magnet® Defender with a total 12-day catch of 5,179 mosquitoes.

About Mega-Catch™:

Mega-Catch™ developed the first eco-friendly mosquito traps.  Safe and non-toxic, Mega-Catch™ traps don’t require the use of harmful pesticides, fogs or sprays to kill mosquitoes.

Mega-Catch™’s patented Variable Quantity Slow CO₂ Gas Release system used in the ULTRA trap was designed to mimic human respiration and has been shown to increase capture rates of most mosquito species by as much as 300-400%.

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.

It’s enough to send you storming inside.  And the worst part is that mosquito bites just don’t disappear immediately and you’re left with ugly red bumps that swell and itch, no matter how fiercely you scratch (and you know you shouldn’t), for the rest of the night.

The way mosquito experts tell it, these pests have been a plague on man since Jurassic times and to date we still haven’t found a way to completely rid ourselves of them or their annoying bites.

However, there are things you can do to prevent mosquito bites and treat the allergic reaction when they do manage to slip past your defenses. A little care when you venture outdoors and some judicious applications of medicine, and you will come out a winner.

Follow along now as we delve into the subject of mosquitoes and their quest for human blood.

Why mosquitoes bites

Females are the only mosquitoes that feed on blood, and they do it because they need the protein to help develop their eggs. Without it, the eggs don’t mature to the point that the female mosquito can lay them for hatching.  So while an attack may seem personal, it’s not; it’s simply a biological imperative.

The female mosquito tracks you down by sight, smell and feel. Her head consists mainly of two giant compound eyes able to pick up movement and bright colors from long distances. At 100 feet, she can smell the carbon dioxide you exhale and the lactic acid that gathers on your skin from sweat. A little nearer, and your body heat begins to draw her like the “Hot Doughnuts Now” sign at Krispy Kreme. The mosquito lights on your exposed skin and slides a serrated proboscis into you, searching for a capillary. At the same time, she injects saliva that contains enzymes to dull the pain and keep your blood from clotting. Left uninterrupted, she will draw blood until her abdomen is full.

What do mosquito bites look like?

Those enzymes are the problem.

Your body doesn’t like them because they are foreign invaders, so your mast cells release histamine, a naturally occurring substance which rushes to the site and causes blood vessel to enlarge. Sometimes the body releases too much histamine. The result is mosquito bite swelling, or what’s called a “wheal.” The area around the bite rises turns red and begins to itch.

How much and for how long varies from person to person, but swollen mosquito bites generally are about the size of a dime and last a day or two.  Doctors at the Mayo Clinic report that, in some people with extreme sensitivities, mosquito bites can swell to the size of grapefruits and linger for days.

And occasionally, there are people who experience anaphylaxis, a severe reaction to mosquito bites. When that happens, the person’s throat can swell shut, restricting breathing, the person’s skin may break out into hives – itchy red bumps – anywhere on the body, not just at the bite. While rare, the reaction can be life-threatening.

Sweet relief: How to stop mosquito bites from itching

There are a lot suggestions for soothing the discomfort of an allergic reaction to a mosquito bite. Some are common-sense, some medical and some just a little odd. But they all have advocates who swear they work.

Among the suggestions:

• Don’t scratch the bite. That only irritates your skin further and could lead to infection. Give it a light washing with soap and cool water.
• Zap-It!  This nifty, pocket size device has been clinically approved and tested in the most extreme conditions by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.  Clicking Zap-It! several times around the area of a bite has the effect of localizing the poison and inhibiting the histamine release which causes the itch and urge to scratch.  Zap-It! uses no batteries or chemicals and is effective on up to 1000 bites.
• Try calamine lotion. The pink goo, a favorite of moms everywhere, is a mixture of zinc oxide and iron oxide and works as a cooling, all-purpose soother. The Food and Drug Administration declared in the early ’90s that it’s ineffective in treating itches, but doctors still recommend it. You might also try Caladryl, which contains both calamine and an analgesic to help relieve the sting.
• Apply an OTC hydrocortisone cream. The cream contains corticosteroids which will counteract the effect of the histamines and help reduce the swelling, which should give you some relief from the mosquito bite itch. An anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen will also help.
• Use a cold compress or icepack. Histamines dilate the blood vessels, filling the affected area with excess blood. Cold causes the vessels to constrict, so that the amount of blood is reduced around the bite.
• Take an antihistamine. This won’t work immediately, but an OTC medication like Benadryl will prevent histamines from binding with receptors at the blood vessels. The vessels in the bite area return to normal, and the swelling and itching dissipates. Remember, you can take an antihistamine before going outside to minimize your allergic reaction to a mosquito bite.
• Dab on some baking soda paste. For some reason, the Mayo Clinic doctors – and dozens of home-remedy advocates – suggest adding a bit of water to regular baking soda, then applying the paste to the mosquito bite. The reason isn’t clear, but it apparently helps relieve the itch.
• Go homeopathic. Suggestions range from rubbing the bite with the inside of a banana peel, dabbing on toothpaste or vinegar to covering the bite with mud. Dr. Alan Greene, pediatrician and prolific health writer, suggests that some natural anti-inflammatory remedies such as evening primrose oil may also help reduce the swelling and itching associated with mosquito bites.

These are some of the steps you can take in the hours immediately after a bite. But remember, if you start feeling sick in the days ahead, particularly if you feel flu-like symptoms that include neck stiffness, headache, nausea and fever, then it’s possible that mosquito bite left you with something worse than just an itch.  Don’t Delay…..Go to the doctor.

But wait… why not just prevent mosquito bites?

WebMD reports that repeated mosquito bites over a lifetime may help people become immune to the saliva, or can have the opposite effect, making a person even more sensitive.  Who needs them?

The best way to treat a mosquito bite is to avoid getting bitten in the first place. Simple as it sounds, this can be a real challenge, especially during the summer or in warm climates.  Obviously, you’ll want to avoid the places where mosquitoes tend to congregate – which is anywhere near water. If you don’t have to be around swamps, marshes, rivers, canals, lakes and ponds, then don’t. Otherwise, at least get clear of the water from dusk until a few hours after dark, when most mosquitoes are out hunting for blood meals.

Unless you take certain precautions, you may be forced to abandon your own backyard during the evening hours. Get rid of any standing water around the yard because it will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Keep the grass and bushes trimmed so they don’t have resting places. Make sure all your windows have screens, and that they are in good shape, and consider screening in the back porch or deck.

Consider installing a mosquito control device, such as a mosquito trap.  Mega-Catch™make some of  best mosquito traps that work by attracting mosquitoes and then killing them before they get to you.  Set up around the perimeter of your yard, they’re your first line of defense from the little biters.  You can use these mosquito machines in conjunction with citronella candles that are reported to repel mosquitoes and subdued lighting or yellow outdoor bulbs that aren’t as likely to draw hungry insects.

When you do go outside, try to keep as much of your skin covered as possible, and avoid bright colors that will attract the attention of mosquitoes. Use an effective insect repellent like DEET, Picaridin or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus on the bare areas.

Dr Greene also recommend taking vitamin supplements.   Vitamin B1 – 25 to 50 milligrams three times a day will produce a skin odor which is supposed to naturally repel mosquitoes. It takes about two weeks of regular doses for the B1 to become effective.

The bottom line is, that there’s just no way to guarantee that you’ll never feel the sting of a mosquito feeding on your blood. The occasional mosquito bite is inevitable, and that’s how it is. But that’s no reason to suffer and hopefully you can use some of these tips to get a little relief when it happens.

Mosquitoes love to feed on humans, and selecting their next meal is relatively easy for these high tech hunters with compound eyes capable of spotting the slightest movements and receptors so sensitive, they can detect the smell of CO2 in a person’s breath from as far away as 400 meters.  Lucky for us, those same abilities also tend to lead them straight into mosquito traps.

However any effective mosquito control program should first start with a thorough inspection of the potential battlefield; your yard!   Check for and eliminate any standing water anywhere, in both the obvious and not so obvious places.

1. Eliminate Breeding Sites
If it can hold water for more than a few days, it can breed mosquitoes, and female mosquitoes can lay their eggs in as little as an inch of water. Just one mosquito can produce 1,200 young and a five-gallon bucket of water has the potential to produce enough mosquitoes to invade an entire city block in a residential community.

• Toys – Make sure the kids pick up after themselves, rain will fill toy trucks, teacup sets, even frisbees left lying in the grass. The same for old-fashioned tire swings, which collect stagnating rainwater, or any old tire left laying in the yard.
• Tarps – Any kind of plastic or nylon cover, whether it is draped over a stack of firewood or a boat, will eventually begin to sag and develop pockets where water can collect. Tighten them where you can and check them frequently.
• Yard equipment – An upright wheelbarrow, an empty flowerpot, even an abandoned shovel or spade can hold water long enough to develop mosquito larvae. Store equipment inside, or turn it over so that rain will run off.
• Birdbaths and paddling pools – Take a hose to the birdbath at least once a week during warm weather to keep the water from stagnating. Turn the kids’ pool over and stand it up against a wall when they aren’t using it. If you have a swimming pool, make sure you clean and service it regularly.
• Puddles – If you have low spots in the yard where water gathers and is slow to drain and  the water stands for more than a week at a time, you’ll get mosquitoes.  Fill in the spots, install drainage pipes, or change the landscaping to keep the water away.
• Rain gutters – Water can back up and become stagnant when the gutters get clogged with debris.  Check the gutters regularly, especially after heavy leaf fall. Also, keep the yard raked. Overturned leaves hold water, and mosquitoes love to breed in them as well.

During the day mosquitoes like to rest in warm, moist vegetation so make sure you keep the grass mown and the bushes trimmed.

2. Personal Protection
When you do go outside, try to keep as much of your skin covered as possible by wearing long sleeves and long pants.  Avoid dark or bright colors that will attract the attention of mosquitoes, and use an effective insect repellent.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends using products that have been shown to work in scientific trials and that contain active ingredients which have been registered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use as insect repellents on skin or clothing.  When the EPA registers a repellent, they evaluate the product for efficacy and potential effects on human beings and the environment.

Of the active ingredients registered with the EPA, the CDC believes that two have demonstrated a higher degree of effectiveness. Products containing these active ingredients typically provide longer-lasting protection than others:

• DEET
• Picaridin

Oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE), a plant-based repellent, is also registered with EPA. In two recent scientific publications, when oil of lemon eucalyptus was tested against mosquitoes found in the US it provided protection similar to repellents with low concentrations of DEET.

3. Border Control
Before your purchase, compare mosquito traps to find out the best trap for you and your particular situation.  Mosquito traps function best when set up around the perimeter of a yard, attracting mosquitoes towards them, and away from human activity.  Never put mosquito traps near people because that just draws the mosquitoes toward their targets.  Position upwind, in a shaded area (mosquitoes avoid the sun) between the source of the mosquitoes and where people gather i.e. decks and patios.

Mega-Catch™ make some of best mosquito traps on the market.   They work by mimicking the smell and sight of prey, fooling mosquitoes into sensing a blood meal close at hand.  When mosquitoes get near, powerful fans sweep them into the trap’s catch container.  Once in, they can’t get out, and the mosquitoes die.

While these mosquito machines by themselves won’t make your mosquito problem disappear altogether, they can be an integral part in helping make your backyard a safer, more enjoyable space over summer.

Testimonial
“Just wanted to update you; the Mega-Catch™ 3000 seemed to get about 50% more than with no lure.  Thanks for all your help & this ultra mosquito catcher is the BEST – it works REALLY well…thanks again”.
Ron Jones,
SC. USA.

University of Florida mosquito researchers are watching with a wary eye as dengue makes a return to the state after more than 50 years. Twenty cases of locally transmitted dengue have already been confirmed in Key West.  And Monroe County officials have issued a health alert and launched an education campaign urging residents to eliminate water sources in and around their homes where mosquitoes can breed.

 The last big dengue epidemic in Florida in 1934 left more than 25,000 Floridians ill, which is why health officials are currently urging residents to take appropriate precautions now. 

Read more about home  mosquito control and how to get  rid of those possible breeding sites to avoid a yard full of biting insects and reduce the risk from the diseases they carry.

PREVENTION:

Start by devising an effective DIY mosquito control program which incorporates a proven trapping system to reduce mosquito numbers, personal protection in the form of repellents, and a proactive approach to reducing and eliminating mosquito breeding sites around your property.

Elimination
The first step in reducing mosquitoes on your property is to identify and eliminate all sources of standing water including low spots, ditches, and gutters. 

Mosquitoes will breed in anything that holds water, including many everyday items such as a child’s toy, plant saucers, buckets, garbage can lids and pet food dishes.  All easily overlooked items!  

During the day, mosquitoes love to rest in tall grass or amongst shrubs in a moist, shady spot. Keeping the grass short and bushes trimmed deprives them of a resting place. Rake up any fallen leaves as well.   An overturned leaf can hold enough water for a mosquito’s eggs, as well as give them a place to wait out the day.

Trapping
Let science help solve your mosquito problems.  Today’s mosquito traps are smaller, more effective and surprisingly affordable!  A consumer favorite, the Mega Catch™ Ultra has outperformed many competing traps in independent tests, thanks to its unique, propane-free, CO₂ system.   Combining proven mosquito-attracting science in a simple to operate, user friendly design the Ultra gives coverage of up to 1.5 acres and is designed to operate with or without Mega-Catch’s™ patented ‘Variable Quantity Slow CO₂ Gas Release System’. 

The optional CO₂ system has been designed to enhance trap performance by increasing the range and capture rates (by as much as 300-400%) of a wider variety of mosquito species and other biting insects.
                    
Repellents
Bear in mind that repellents do not protect all users equally. The effectiveness of a repellent depends on the mosquito species that is biting as well as the age, sex, level of activity, and attractiveness (to mosquitoes that is) of the human using the repellent.

In general, mosquito repellents work by masking the chemical cues that invite mosquitoes to dine.  For over 50 years scientists believed that DEET worked by inhibiting signals from the mosquitoes’ antennae making it hard for them to find their target.  However researchers at the University of California Davis have since discovered that mosquitoes actually smell DEET and stay away from it.  Walter Leal Professor of entomology UC Davis concluded that DEET doesn’t mask the smell of the host or jam the insect’s senses – mosquitoes simply don’t like it because it smells bad to them.

Despite rumors and anecdotes of everything from banana peels to garlic tablets warding off mosquitoes, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend only three types of repellents for safe and effective use:

1.         DEET
2.         PICARIDIN by Bayer (marketed as CUTTER ADVANCED)
3.         OIL OF LEMON EUCALYPTUS (marketed as Repel)

TREATMENT:

It’s not possible to eliminate every single mosquito. So if you are unlucky enough to get bitten by a rogue mosquito, whatever you do, don’t scratch the bite – no matter how good it feels.  It can take up to two days before the itchy bump or wheal appears, and scratching it will just break the skin which could lead to infection. Wash with soap, run cool water over the bite, and be guided by the experts.

- Calamine lotion or Caladryl.  A combination of zinc and iron oxides reported to have a soothing effect on itchy skin. Caladryl also contains a mild topical analgesic for pain.

- Icepacks.  The cold constricts the blood vessels, which helps reduce the swelling, and numbs the skin to lessen the discomfort.

- Ibuprofen or hydrocortisone cream.  Both will work to reduce swelling, and hydrocortisone also is widely used to soothe itching.

- Anti-histamines.  Any over-the-counter medication such as Benadryl should help the itching to subside

Some people, although this is rare, can have a serious reaction to mosquito bites, which results in swelling in the throat, significant hives and wheezing. This life-threatening condition (anaphylaxis) requires immediate medical attention.

You CAN help reduce the number of biting incidences for everyone (pets included!)  with an effective DIY mosquito control program.  As they say, prevention is the best protection.

A. Mosquitoes, like all insects, are cold-blooded creatures. As a result, they are incapable of regulating body heat and their temperature is dependent upon their surroundings. Mosquitoes are known to function best at 80^o F, become lethargic at 60^o F and cannot  function below 50^o F.  Not all mosquitoes die from the cold and over-winter in various guises: 

• Some species of mosquitoes overwinter as adult females in a state of diapause (a hibernation-like state of arrested development), hiding out in barns, tree holes, basements, attics, etc. anywhere they can get out of the wind. 
  Typically, the female mosquito mates before the onset of winter, refusing to take a blood meal, instead feeding only on sugar.  Their ovaries stop working, so their eggs will not mature.  And they store plenty of fat to sustain them over winter. In spring when the temperatures rise, the female emerges from hibernation, seeks out a blood meal and lays the eggs that produce the next generation of adults.
• Certain mosquito species lay winter hardy eggs able to survive extreme weather, such as cold, ice, and drought.  Typically in late summer or fall, the female lays her eggs in areas where the ground is moist.  In spring, when temperatures begin to rise and moisture is produced by spring rains and melting snow and ice, these eggs will hatch, progressing through larval, pupal, and finally adult stages to begin the cycle all over again.
• And other species of mosquitoes can survive winter in the larval stage.  All mosquito larvae require water, even in winter.  As the water temperature drops, it induces a state of diapause in the mosquito larvae. Development only resumes when the water warms up again.

Winter Mosquito Control
Winter is a great time to institute some DIY home mosquito control.  We all know mosquitoes need still, stagnant water to breed.   It doesn’t take much, an inch or two that has collected in a child’s toy, a flowerpot, an old tire.  So by draining containers around the home you can disrupt this process and reduce or eliminate mosquitoes and the potential for disease transmission.  Mosquito control agencies have their winter programs too. They clean out ditches and streams, allowing the water to flow, which discourages and eliminates mosquitoes breeding in areas for extended periods of time without the use of pesticides.

Winterize Your Mosquito Trap
In the warm and humid climates of the Southeast and Gulf Coast, mosquitoes can thrive all year round, making ongoing precautions essential.  The Mosquito Activity Forecast from weather.com is a useful tool, as it predicts just how active mosquitoes in your area are, based on a variety of weather and time-related factors.

However, once temperatures in your area begin averaging below 50°F  it’s safe to store your Mega-Catch™ trap away for the winter. 
Instructions:

1. Turn off your Mega-Catch™ Trap and disconnect the power cable
2. Turn off and disconnect the regulator from the C02 cylinder. (Ultra)  To ensure that insects don’t nest in your C02 system during the off-season place the regulator in a sealed bag, and place some electrical tape or similar over the end of the gas line (attached to the rear of the trap)
3. Remove the skirt (Ultra & Premier) and wipe down the outside of the trap with clean soapy water and a damp cloth. 
4. Open your trap (Ultra & Premier) and again, using warm soapy water, clean the internal plates, heated reflective surface and fan, then allow todry thoroughly.  (step by step guide in the Operation manual or download from http://www.megacatch.com/manuals.html)
5. Using a small sponge or toothbrush and warm soapy water, reach into the trap (Alpha) and carefully clean the inside casing of the fan and fan blades
6. Remove and discard any opened attractant lures – they’re only effective for 30 days
7. Remove and clean the mesh catch bag – pollen, dust and dirt can prohibit airflow and prevent your trap from working efficiently.  If the catch bag is torn or damaged in any way, remove and discard. Start next season with a fresh mesh bag
8. To extend the life of your trap, store it in a garage or shed, protected from the elements and extreme cold
9. Mid-way through winter, turn on your trap and let it run for a day.  This will keep the timer battery charged (Ultra & Premier) and the fan moving  (Alpha, Ultra & Premier) 

With a little bit of maintenance now, you can ensure a trouble-free start next spring, with a trap in peak condition, primed for any mosquito mayhem.  Because mosquitoes that were infected with say West Nile Virus before they went into ‘hibernation’ will still have the virus when they emerge – all loaded up and ready to go!

Mosquitoes love your family and your pets

The FDA has traditionally advised keeping your pet indoors around dawn and dusk, because that’s when many mosquito species feed. However that advice is no longer enough to protect your pet. The Asian Tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) is an aggressive daytime biter and it carries both West Nile virus and heartworm parasites.  So each time your pet is outside in mosquito territory, it is a sitting target for hungry female mosquitoes seeking a blood meal. 

West Nile virus along with the age-old, ever adaptable mosquito, is probably here to stay so ongoing precautions are essential.  The same thing that protects you against mosquito diseases also protects your pets. Prevention! 

• Eliminate breeding sites
• Use mosquito repellents, and
• Decrease exposure

Eliminate Breeding Sites
Change the water in birdbaths and paddling pools weekly and clean debris from rain gutters.  Eliminating standing water and long grasses will also help create an inhospitable environment for mosquitoes, encouraging them to go elsewhere

Repellents for Pets
There are a number of mosquito repellents available for pets, however as no repellent is 100% effective, heartworm preventatives should still be used.  When choosing a mosquito repellent for your cat or dog, bear in mind that certain chemicals may be harmful or even fatal to your pets.  Human repellents containing DEET have been known to poison cats and should never be used on them.

Protect your Dog:     Look for repellents specifically formulated and recommended for pets that contain either permethrins or pyrethrins, such as “Flys Off Spray”.  

Protect your Cat:     Look for products containing pyrethrin.  Pyrethrins are a natural, organic insecticide that can be safely used on cats.  Products such as “bioSpot Flea & Tick Spray” and “bioSpot SPOT ON®” are considered both safe and effective for cats.
NB: Permethrins are toxic to cats and should never be used on them. 

Natural Control to Reduce Mosquitoes

• Bats and purple martins are often touted as great mosquito predators, and they can consume large numbers of flying insects including mosquitoes.  Having a bat or bird house in your yard is yet another way of decreasing the mosquito population naturally, without the use of toxic chemicals.
• Mosquitoes love to breed in still, stagnant water.  To avoid this problem add goldfish, koi or some Mosquito Fish to your ornamental pool or pond.  A pond with a healthy and hungry fish population will eat most mosquito eggs, larvae and pupae.
• The addition of a fountain, waterfall or aerator is another option.  This will help to circulate the water quickly, making it difficult for mosquitoes to breed.
• Consider using a mosquito trap to help control mosquitoes and reduce the chances of being bitten.  Because mosquitoes find their prey by detecting CO2, Octenol and other chemical odors, as well as light and heat, most mosquito traps use some combination of artificial smells and lighting displays to lure, trap and kill mosquitoes.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps are a safe and highly effective way to help rid your yard of those nuisance mosquitoes, biting midges (no-see-ums) black flies and sand flies, all without the use of insecticides, fogs or sprays.

When set up properly, in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, just one or two of these ingenious devices can kill thousands of mosquitoes and all but wipe out a local population, reducing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases for you and your pet.

Mosquitoes use their antenna to seek out hot targets putting out carbon dioxide (CO²) the stuff we exhale.  If you’re huffing and puffing around the back yard, playing with the kids or flipping burgers on the grill, you’re especially appealing.  So if you want off the mosquito radar, hold your breath or find them a meal replacement – more on that later!

The little blood suckers are also attracted to chemicals in our sweat.   In fact scientists have discovered that 1 in 10 people are highly attractive to mosquitoes and that genetics account for a staggering 85% of our susceptibility to mosquito bites.  They’ve also discovered that certain elements of our body chemistry, that when found in excess on the skin’s surface, make mosquitoes swarm closer.  For instance mosquitoes can detect and are attracted to cholesterol – wait ‘til the pharmaceuticals figure out they have a secondary market for their cholesterol drugs!  And like butterflies, they are attracted to bright colors. Hence the advice to wear light colored clothing.

The mosquito’s bite; actually it’s not a bite – mosquitoes don’t have teeth!  Instead they use their nose. It’s called a proboscis, and it’s serrated like a knife. It pierces the skin and through one tube it injects saliva to numb the area and keep the blood from clotting. And through the other it sucks blood like root beer through a straw. Yum!

It doesn’t take much — between 0.001 and 0.01 milliliters – so we probably wouldn’t even miss it if it weren’t for that annoying, itchy bump that comes up after a mosquito bite.  It’s an allergic reaction that usually goes away in a day or so, but will drive you bonkers and to the medicine chest until it does

Mosquitoes prefer to schedule their feasts during dusk and early evening. So that’s when you may find yourself swatting helplessly at dive-bombing mosquitoes. That’s no way to enjoy a barbeque with your friends and family – you’ve invited them over for a meal, not to be the main course! So to avoid attracting mosquitoes like a magnet you need to offer up a viable meal replacement.

Mosquito traps that take advantage of mosquitoes’ sensory abilities by tricking them with features that mimic the smells and visual stimuli associated with people is what you need.  The idea is to make the machine more attractive to a mosquito than a human by emitting CO2, octenol, heat, or light – or a combination of those to lure mosquitoes in.  The mosquitoes come in to check out the prospective meal, get sucked in by the fan then trapped in a container where they die.  A great way to get rid of mosquitoes from your yard.

Further DIY mosquito control measures should also include wearing loose long pants and long sleeves to help deter the biters.  Repellants, especially those with DEET, can cut down on the attacks. And some people swear by citronella sprays, candles and incense.

Mosquito squatters love a place that is out of sight, out of mind.  Take in the welcome mat by depriving skeeters of their favorite places like standing water, which can become potential mosquito nurseries.  It doesn’t take much, an inch or two that has collected in a child’s toy, a flowerpot, an old tire. Stagnant pools, birdbaths and fountains are another mosquito favorite. Females lay their eggs every three days in standing water and they’re not particular where.   So don’t forget to clear out the rain gutters too. They’re also fond of tall grass and soggy mulch. Keep the grass cut short and the mulch turned, especially after heavy rain.

The female mosquito is a deadly blood-seeking machine and some species are known to fly as far as 50 miles to get their blood meal.  Fortunately she only lives between two to four weeks.  Male mosquitoes on the other hand live about a week and feed on fruit and plant nectar. But it’s all about passing on their DNA, so they seek out females, attracted by the sound of their wings. They mate just once. The female will continue to lay eggs after every blood meal, producing hundreds of eggs during her lifetime.

So they live a short life filled with quiet desperation. Well, ok, maybe not.

There are several ways to shorten the life span of a mosquito. There’s nothing like a well-placed swat or slap -  seeing the bloody, squished body of a mosquito on the palm of your hand, has its own special satisfaction (until you realize that it’s your blood.)

But a good mosquito trap is probably the most effective solution for an open space like a back yard.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps are among the highest rated traps on the market. And in independent testing (PPT), Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have been shown to capture thousands of mosquitoes in a single night. That will take the bite out of any mosquito’s forthcoming sushi party!