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.

Thanks to Dracula, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Twilight, vampires are hot and popular.  However there is one little bloodsucker that will never be welcome; our old foe and original vampire – the mosquito! 

In the animal world, blood-feeding insects and mammals really do exist. Many insects like ticks and fleas as well as mosquitoes, feed on blood. Protein, the building blocks of all cells, is found in blood, and it is the protein in blood that mosquitoes require before they can produce and lay a batch of eggs.

However, human beings are not the only blood hosts that mosquitoes attack. These bloodthirsty insects are also known to feed on horses, cows, cats and dogs, as well as birds, lizards, fish, bats and even caterpillars for a blood meal. 

While mosquito bites are typically just itchy and annoying, it’s the potential to make us sick we fear the most. Mosquito-borne diseases are among the world’s leading causes of illness and death today. The World Health Organization estimates that more than 300 million clinical cases each year are attributable to mosquito-borne illnesses. Some of the more deadly diseases include; malaria, West Nile virus, chikungunya fever and dengue fever.   In countries where disease is rampant, mosquitoes are regarded as public enemy Number One.

Global warming, climate change and international air travel have all aided and abetted the mosquitoes’ global march and triggered a worldwide outbreak of mosquito-borne diseases. “Many diseases are ‘highly sensitive’ to climates and climate temperatures, and malaria and dengue fever can be expected to spread to new areas.”  John Holmes, the United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and disaster relief told WorldNetDaily, (Dec.17 2009).

In 2009 the threat of swine flu sparked a panic and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic.  Meanwhile, another global public-health threat proliferated virtually ignored: dengue fever. Forty years ago, the disease struck only nine countries; it is now endemic in more than 100. While the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported that swine flu had killed 11,749 people as of December 2009, the WHO reported that “explosive outbreaks” of dengue hospitalized half a million people last year.  Globally, 2.5 billion people live in areas where dengue viruses can be transmitted. Dengue is carried by two mosquito species; the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Both these mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and lay their eggs on the sides of any water-filled containers. 

Because there are still no vaccines to protect against many mosquito-borne diseases, including dengue, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend preventing the bite as the best protection and advise taking the following precautions:

• Wear long pants and shirts and spray exposed skin all over with insect repellents like DEET before leaving the house,
• Limit outdoor activity around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active,
• Place mosquito netting over infant strollers and carriers,
• Keep bushes trimmed and grass mown around the home; and
• Use screens and mosquito netting to keep mosquitoes outside. 

Another way to reduce backyard biting incidences and the potential for disease transmission is to decrease the number of mosquitoes, using mosquito traps.  

The best mosquito traps employ a wide range of stimuli to attract mosquitoes.  This is an important factor in the case of daytime biters like the yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes who rely not only on visual, but chemical and other cues to find their targets. 

Unfortunately there is no single solution that will rid you entirely of the little bloodsuckers.  Mosquitoes evolve over time to adapt to the climatic environment and against any chemicals used to control them, and the emergence of insecticide-resistant strains of mosquitoes has become an increasing problem worldwide.  However a good mosquito trap can be a pretty effective weapon to use in an open space like a backyard – because the best method of controlling mosquitoes is to stop them breeding. And two of the most effective methods of achieving this are:

(a)    removing all of their most popular breeding sites – standing water, however little, anywhere; and

(b)   daily trapping during the season – to interrupt breeding cycles, reducing mosquito populations.

So to keep the biters at bay, prevention is by far the best protection, wherever you live, because somewhere in the world it’s summer and those vampires of the insect world are out to get you.  While there’s no risk of turning into a vampire yourself overnight; it only takes one bite from an infected mosquito to contract a serious, sometimes fatal disease.

“When talking about climate change, we are not talking about something which is a future threat. We are not talking about something which may or may not happen in 50 years time, or 20 years time. We are talking about something which is happening now in terms of the effects of climate change on peoples’ lives now…” John Holmes, the United Nations undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs and disaster relief told WorldNetDaily, (Dec.17 2009).

Climate is an important factor in all sorts of things that our health depends on. The Global Humanitarian Forum claims that 300,000 people are already dying each year because of climate change induced malnutrition, diarrhea and malaria as well as extreme weather events. Rice yields are known to decline by 10 percent for each additional 1 degree celsius rise in temperature, and salmonella bacteria like hotter weather as do mosquitoes.

Predictions are that hotter summers and milder winters will lead to an increase in mosquito-borne diseases. “Many diseases are ‘highly sensitive’ to climates and climate temperatures, and malaria and dengue fever can be expected to spread to new areas.” says Holmes.

Dengue fever occurs mostly in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia and Latin America but also affects countries like Australia (Queensland) and the United States (Puerto Rico, Texas-Mexico border, Hawaii and the US-affiliated Pacific Islands). In 2008 and 2009, severe dengue epidemics were reported in Mexico, Paraguay, Brazil, Bolivia and Argentina. And in early 2009, Queensland experienced its worst dengue outbreak in 50 years with more than 1000 people infected and one woman killed. The spread throughout regional cities including Cairns and Townsville was so rampant, experts held a dengue summit, summoning experts from all over the world.

Dengue is spread by two mosquito species; the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti) and the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus). Both these mosquitoes are aggressive daytime biters and lay their eggs on the sides of any water-filled containers. However the Asian tiger is more cold-tolerant than Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, and can spread more easily. The Asian tiger mosquito is a disease bearer or ‘vector’ of over 30 arboviruses including West Nile virus, various strains of encephalitis and Chikungunya fever, making it the most significant nuisance mosquito worldwide.

Because there are still no vaccines to protect against many mosquito-borne diseases, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) advise that preventing the bite is the best protection. People should limit outdoor activity around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active, wear long pants and shirts and spray exposed skin all over with insect repellents like DEET before leaving the house and keep bushes trimmed and grass mown round the yard to keep mosquitoes at bay.

Another way to reduce biting incidences and the risk from disease is to decrease the number of mosquitoes using mosquito traps. EnviroSafe Technologies, manufacturer of Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps, engaged Professor Yap Han Heng from the Vector Control Research Unit, School of Biological Sciences, University Sains Malaysia to advise on, and test trap designs in South East Asia. One of their primary objectives was to develop a trap which would attract and kill the Asian tiger mosquito.

What seems to make these traps particularly effective is that they employ a wide range of visual stimuli to attract mosquitoes. This is an important factor in the case of daytime biters like the yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes who rely, not only on visual, but chemical cues, to find their targets.

Unfortunately there is no single solution that will rid you entirely of the little biters. However, a good mosquito trap looks like a pretty effective weapon to use in an open space like a back yard – because the most effective method of controlling mosquitoes seems to involve stopping them breeding. And two of the best ways of achieving this include:

(a) removing all of their most popular breeding sites – standing water, however little, anywhere; and
(b) daily trapping during the season – this will interrupt breeding cycles, reducing mosquito populations.

Global warming and climate change will mean an increase in overall temperatures and rainfall, which in turn means more mosquitoes. “You don’t need to be a scientist to work that out,” according to Mega-Catch™ general manager Michael Bremner. “Trap sales are up on the same period last year, in fact, existing customers are buying a second, or third trap in order to keep up with bumper mosquito crops,” says Bremner.

Few in the US would argue that the typical “mosquito season” appears longer than in previous years – mosquitoes are hatching earlier and staying around longer as the first frost is delayed. Given that mosquitoes remain active until temperatures drop below 50 degrees, ongoing precautions are essential. Because, just one bite is all it takes to transmit disease – and as the saying goes, it’s better to be safe than sorry!

Admit it. There’s nothing quite so satisfying as giving that newly landed mosquito a well deserved swat or slap. That is until it disintigrates into a mushy pool of blood on your arm – and you realize it’s your blood!

Not only do you have a fast developing itchy mosquito bite to deal with, you’ve got major blood, guts and gore to clean up as well. 

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 give it a rest for two or three days, lay her eggs, then is up and off and ready to bite again.

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.

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.

Weapon of Mosquito Destruction

When American rocket scientists proposed the ‘Star Wars’ defense system to knock Soviet missiles from the skies with laser beams, little did they realize that 25 years later scientists would be aiming their lasers at another airborne threat – the mosquito.  The Cold War missile-defense strategy has been reborn according to an article published in the Wall Street Journal (March 14, 2009). Now dubbed WMD, or Weapon of Mosquito Destruction, this time round the scientists’ actual target is malaria.  Transmitted by the Anopheles mosquito, malaria kills between one and three million people worldwide each year according to the World Health Organization (WHO).  The plasmodium parasite that causes malaria has become increasingly drug resistant prompting scientists to look at new ways to combat the killer disease.

Efforts to eradicate malaria had stalled until high-profile philanthropist Bill Gates of Microsoft Corp focused worldwide attention on mosquito-borne diseases, and re-launched the war on Malaria.   Grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation are designed to encourage scientists to pursue bold ideas that could lead to breakthroughs, focusing on ways to prevent and treat infectious diseases. 

The laser research, funded by Gates, was commissioned by Intellectual Ventures, a Washington-based company founded by former Microsoft executive, Joseph Myhrvold.   He’d been asked by his former boss Bill Gates to look into new ways of combating malaria.  Myhrvold, together with astrophysicist and ‘Star Wars’ architect, Dr Lowell Wood, came up with the idea of using lasers on mosquitoes.  The laser is designed to detect the audio frequency of beating wings, zero in on the bug and burn it on the spot, according to project lead scientist Dr Jordin Kare.  The lasers, designed to be mounted on lamppost type poles could be put around the circumference of villages to create a kind of ‘fence’ against mosquitoes.   ”We like to think back then we made some contribution to the ending of the Cold War with the Star Wars program,” Dr. Kare says. “Now we’re just trying to make a dent in a war that’s actually gone on a lot longer and claimed a lot more lives,” he told the Wall Street Journal. (March 14, 2009)

Genetically Modified Mosquitoes

Scientists everywhere are experimenting with new ways of putting paid to mosquitoes, with weapons that disrupt the sense of sight, smell and heat mosquitoes use to find their prey.  

• Thomas Baker at Pennsylvania State University is exploring whether malaria-carrying mosquitoes can be infected with a fungus that would act like a cold, suppressing the sense of smell that they use to find people as sources of blood.
   
• Szabolcs Marka, an astrophysicist and Columbia University specialist in black holes, has a grant to develop a ‘mosquito flashlight’.  The device is designed to knock out the bugs’ eye-like sensors.   
• Japanese researcher, Hiroyuki Matsuoka at Jichi Medical University, thinks it may be possible to turn mosquitoes that normally transmit disease into ‘flying syringes,’ so that when they bite humans they deliver vaccines. 

There’s even a project to create a genetically modified, malaria-free mosquito to overtake the natural kind. 

Protective Measures

However, one sure way to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases including malaria is to get rid of the mosquito population.

While eradicating all the mosquitoes in the world with devices like lasers sounds like a great idea, it’s still a long way off.  Taking protective measures against mosquitoes is currently the best solution.

Some of the most effective ways to protect yourself include:

• Empty any freestanding water since it’s an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes.
• Wear protective clothing such as long sleeves and pants when outdoors in mosquito prone areas
• Use mosquito screens and nets in and around the home
• Wear insect repellant
• Use mosquito traps in outdoor areas.

While sprays, repellents and citronella candles can be effective, they offer only temporary relief.  A good mosquito trap is probably the most effective, and best available long-term solution for getting rid of mosquitoes.  Daily trapping during the season will interrupt breeding cycles, dramatically reducing mosquito populations.

There are more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes, 175 of them in the U.S.   Each species is unique and each is attracted by different combinations of sensory stimuli including; light, shape, color, heat, movement, sweat and other by products of human activity.  Mega-Catch™ mosquito traps have exploited these sensory signals by using sophisticated electronic components and advanced design features, to make their traps highly effective at catching and killing mosquitoes.

The most common, and most dangerous mosquitoes, are the various species in the Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes genera.  Worldwide Aedes mosquitoes feed on people, bite during the day and rely more on sight when seeking a meal. Culex mosquitoes usually prefer birds, when they’re available, hunt at night and track prey by smell.

Tested and Proven Mosquito Killer

“You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to catch mosquitoes.” says Mega-Catch General Manager Mike Bremner, “We didn’t invent the mosquito trap, just perfected it.”

The company appears to have hit on a winning formula – combining painstaking research with technological innovation, to build a range of mosquito traps, scientifically proven to capture and kill thousands of mosquitoes a night.  And what’s even better, Mega-Catch™ traps are available right now.

Don’t let Mosquito Trapping ‘Fall’ Away

Mosquitoes, universally regarded as a summertime pest, are also known to thrive in the fall, transmitting a multitude of diseases in the process.  In fact mosquitoes remain active until temperatures drop below 50 degrees; which isn’t until late fall in most regions of the United States. With summer winding down, don’t get caught out. Females lay their eggs every three days in standing water, and a single female mosquito can lay thousands of eggs during her life time. And those eggs can have a ‘shelf life’ of up to a year, before hatching.   So those mosquitoes you leave buzzing around now are producing potential offspring that could be back to bite you come next spring.

Cold temperatures kill adult mosquitoes, including their larvae, however global warming is already having an impact, with the increase and spread of mosquito populations and mosquito-borne diseases being recorded worldwide. Just one bite is all it takes to transmit disease, so ongoing precautions are essential, especially in the fall.

Mosquito traps, when used in conjunction with other sensible mosquito control measures are one of the best ways to keep a yard clear of nuisance mosquitoes. While they won’t permanently eliminate mosquitoes in the area, and no responsible manufacturer should claim otherwise, when set up properly, just one or two mosquito traps can kill thousands of  the little biters, significantly reducing the risk of West Nile virus (WNV) or any other mosquito-borne disease.

Bite Prevention the Best Protection against West Nile Virus

Carried by birds and spread by infected mosquitoes, WNV has killed hundreds of millions of birds and infected more than 29,000 people in the U.S. since the first reported outbreak there in 1999.  Now over halfway through the 2009 West Nile season, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) thus far has reported  82 cases in 20 states and 3 confirmed fatalities.  Unfortunately there’s no vaccine for West Nile virus – although research is currently underway to develop one.  The CDC advises preventing the bite is the best protection.

Eliminate Potential Mosquito Nurseries

Getting rid of breeding sites around the home will help reduce the health risks associated with mosquitoes.  They don’t need much; an inch or two of water that has collected in a child’s toy, a flowerpot, or an old tire. Stagnant pools, birdbaths and fountains are another mosquito favorite.  

Mosquito Traps Kill Thousands

So to minimize your mosquito problem, for this season and the next, devise an effective mosquito control plan using the best available strategies, including mosquito traps.  The effectiveness of mosquito traps does vary from brand to brand and location to location.  Mega-Catch™ traps have been independently and scientifically tested and seem to be far superior to the rest at doing what they claim – effectively attracting and killing mosquitoes.  As an added bonus they also deal to biting midges (no-see-ums) black flies and sand flies, all without the use of insecticides, fogs or sprays.

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