Mosquito Traps 101

We know that mosquitoes, like other insects, do evolve; and the emergence of insecticide-resistant strains of mosquitoes has become an increasing problem. In 2008 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 125 known mosquito species with documented resistance to one or more insecticides. This increased pressure on the private sector to produce safer, more effective lure and kill mosquito traps that don’t require the use of harmful chemicals.  Mosquito traps available on the domestic market have since undergone a transformation with company’s like Mega-Catch™, combining rigorous research and technological innovation to produce traps that have been scientifically proven to capture and kill mosquitoes.  In field tests, these mosquito killers were shown to kill thousands of mosquitos in a single night. http://www.megacatch.com/testresults.html

“For the most part, these products do what they claim“, says American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA )technical advisor Joseph Conlon. “These companies are really serious about it and are backing it with sound science“. (The Gazette, Jul 12, 2004)

But these mosquito machines are only one weapon to help you get rid of mosquitoes and they should be used in conjunction with other sensible mosquito control measures designed to manage mosquito problems:

1. Get rid of mosquito breeding sites around the home.  These include old tires, bird baths, buckets, pot plant bases, tin cans and plastic containers, water gardens and decorative ponds (without fish), untended swimming pools, recycling bins, trash can lids, wheelbarrows and even hollow plant stems and flowers like bromeliads. Anything that holds water is a potential mosquito nursery!
2. Keep grass mown, bushes trimmed and debris out of the gutters throughout the mosquito season.  These measures will eliminate some of the most popular mosquito roosting places so you can reclaim your yard!
3. Eliminate standing water in low spots, ditches and other areas.
4. Light colored clothing is less attractive to some mosquito species and if tightly woven, can give some protection against biting. Wearing long sleeves and long pants during the hours when mosquitoes are most active will give added defense.
5. Use screens and mosquito netting to provide skeeter-free zones in and around the home.
6. Use insect repellents. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the most effective repellents to use contain one of the following EPA registered active ingredients: DEET (N,N-Diethyl-m-toluamide), Picaridin (KBR3023) and Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (p-menthane 3,8-diol).