# The Mosquito Wars **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 31, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300 "2021-05-31T16:08:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/1 "2021-05-31T16:08:16Z")
They are always bad here in South Texas, but this year is _extra_ bad. Especially in my back yard. I have the cutest [deck](https://i.imgur.com/g4YhmGG.jpg?1), which is practically unusable at this time of year without employing heavy artillery and clever strategies. Even then, I experience only limited success for short periods. We have had tons of rain recently, and apparently mosquitoes can get it on in a teaspoon or less of water. Little bastards. My yard is very small (in that picture, you are looking at the whole thing), but very lush with vegetation, and has absolutely no breeze. When I lived in the country, my “yard” (16 acres) was wide open and had a constant steady breeze-- no mosquitoes there. I didn’t miss them. Currently my program is to spray the yard with [Cutter yard spray](https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000PGE032/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1), concentrating on soaking the deck and spraying immediately around it. Then I let it dry for at least two hours before I permit the cats to go out. I do this every morning or every other morning. (The amazon reviews that say one good spray lasts all season-- to them I say: **HA! Not effing likely!** ) I keep a giant citronella candle lit on the table and yesterday I stood a tall oscillating floor fan on the deck and just let it run all day. The fan has been the most effective thing. I’ve looked at reviews in various places – like [Wirecutter](https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/mosquito-control-gear/), for instance – but haven’t found much help. I wouldn’t mind an electronic gadget of some kind, but they don’t get great reviews. How do y’all handle the mosquito wars? ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/2 "2021-05-31T16:24:30Z")
Heck, Thelma Lou, you might be able to cover the deck with a pop-up canopy with mosquito nets. My son has a large one and it works well but you do loose a bit of that outdoor feeling. [https://www.walmart.com/ip/Quictent-10x10-EZ-Pop-up-Canopy-Tent-with-Mosquito-Netting-Screen-House-Room-Tent-Mesh-Walls-Waterproof-Royal-Blue/914434426](https://www.walmart.com/ip/Quictent-10x10-EZ-Pop-up-Canopy-Tent-with-Mosquito-Netting-Screen-House-Room-Tent-Mesh-Walls-Waterproof-Royal-Blue/914434426) ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/3 "2021-05-31T16:36:39Z")
I use a [Thermacell](https://www.amazon.com/Thermacell-Effective-DEET-Free-Repellent-Scent-Free/dp/B075SBMTQL/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwktKFBhCkARIsAJeDT0jfIW4-jLJ3k6jAW9EnBRo1KuPa208hfnSzpug8HWYNqw_AxPeQhWgaAi3TEALw_wcB&hvadid=410011832294&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9005807&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=15678267302576129407&hvtargid=kwd-58464690&hydadcr=24665_11410949&keywords=thermacell&qid=1622478478&sr=8-2) on the porch, it seems to work pretty well. I also put out a couple [Spartan Eradicators](https://www.amazon.com/SPARTAN-MOSQUITO-ERADICATOR-Effective-ShortTerm/dp/B07NLJ3G99) at the start of bug season. Unlike in Maine, where I grew up, the skeeters here in upstate NY are sneaky. You don’t notice getting bitten until the next day. In Maine they were much more painful when biting. ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/4 "2021-05-31T16:50:38Z")
> [@Paintcharge](#): > > I also put out a couple [Spartan Eradicators](https://www.amazon.com/SPARTAN-MOSQUITO-ERADICATOR-Effective-ShortTerm/dp/B07NLJ3G99) at the start of bug season. I wonder why those are “Not approved for sale thus cannot ship to CA, CT, ID, IN, KS, ME, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, PA, SD, UT, WA, WY, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.” ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/5 "2021-05-31T17:02:21Z")
I don’t know the answer to that, but I purchased mine at a Tractor Supply in NY. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/6 "2021-05-31T17:03:13Z")
> [@jaycat](#): > > I wonder why those are “Not approved for sale thus cannot ship to CA, CT, ID, IN, KS, ME, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, PA, SD, UT, WA, WY, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.” They don’t seem to be [terribly effective](https://colinpurrington.com/2019/08/spartan-mosquito-eradicator/) except anecdotally. Basically there isn’t much science to support them. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/7 "2021-05-31T19:17:39Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > They don’t seem to be [terribly effective](https://colinpurrington.com/2019/08/spartan-mosquito-eradicator/) except anecdotally. Basically there isn’t much science to support them.- I’ll settle for anecdotes. Actually, my hairdresser told me about these, too. > [@jaycat](#): > > I wonder why those are “Not approved for sale thus cannot ship to CA, CT, ID, IN, KS, ME, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, PA, SD, UT, WA, WY, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.” Because mosquitoes are heavily represented in the legislatures of those states? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![jaycat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jaycat/32/3015_2.png) [@jaycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jaycat)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/8 "2021-05-31T20:58:50Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Because mosquitoes are heavily represented in the legislatures of those states? 😉 🤣🤣🤣 ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/9 "2021-05-31T21:57:25Z")
Every now and then we get some bad ones, but it’s been dry as a Pop-corn fart for so long out here, and it’s always howling wind, so I don’t expect to be troubled by them this year. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/10 "2021-05-31T22:37:43Z")
I was promised an anti-mosquito laser system a decade ago and am still waiting. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/11 "2021-05-31T22:41:17Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > [@jaycat](#): > > > > I wonder why those are “Not approved for sale thus cannot ship to CA, CT, ID, IN, KS, ME, MT, NE, NV, NM, NY, PA, SD, UT, WA, WY, District of Columbia, or Puerto Rico.” > > Because mosquitoes are heavily represented in the legislatures of those states? I used to live in Indiana. Can confirm that mosquitos make up a good 30-40% of the state legislature there. I’m thankful that in Hampton Roads, Virginia, we don’t have much of a mosquito problem, even in the summer. My house is filled with roaches, though. Blech. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/12 "2021-05-31T22:55:35Z")
> [@Gatopescado](#): > > Every now and then we get some bad ones, but it’s been dry as a Pop-corn fart for so long out here, and it’s always howling wind, so I don’t expect to be troubled by them this year. In 2-3 months, it will be bone-dry here, but the mosquitoes will still be thriving. Probably because they’re toughening up now. > [@ekedolphin](#): > > I’m thankful that in Hampton Roads, Virginia, we don’t have much of a mosquito problem, even in the summer. My house is filled with roaches, though. Blech. Yeah, in the country, I didn’t have mosquitoes or cockroaches… just scorpions. One time one fell on my head from the ceiling fan while I was sitting at my desk. Then there was the time I woke up and a bat was flying around my bedroom. Let’s not even talk about the times I found snakes in the house. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/13 "2021-05-31T23:04:03Z")
I don’t know if these will help you, because it doesn’t sound like standing water is contributing to your problem, but lots of people swear by [dunks](https://www.amazon.com/Summit-responsible-solutions-110-12-Mosquito/dp/B0000AH849/ref=asc_df_B0000AH849/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076816763&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13797295605941834102&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032793&hvtargid=pla-328943551812&psc=1). In any case, I feel your pain - both Hawai’i and Indonesia, where I’ve spent most of my adult life, have lots of mosquitos. Mosquitos apparently prefer certain people over others, and I am a total mosquito magnet. People around me will say there are no mosquitos; that’s because the mosquitos are all biting ME. I had one friend who the mosquitos liked better than me. I used to joke that I would pay her to sleep in my bedroom at night when the mosquitos in Jakarta got bad there. Anyway, look on the bright side. One year in Indonesia, I got dengue, a mosquito-borne disease, as did my husband and son. At least that’s not an issue in most of the US (we’ve had at least one dengue outbreak in Hawai’i that I know of, but it was quite limited in scope). ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/14 "2021-05-31T23:29:48Z")
Yeah, I hate waking up at three in the morning, drenched in sweat and all the covers kicked off, to hear that ominous sound, “eeeeeeeee”…it gets all 1984 in here. “Not me, do it to Rover!” ---
**Author:** ![Paintcharge](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/paintcharge/32/7946_2.png) [@Paintcharge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paintcharge)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/15 "2021-05-31T23:29:57Z")
Ok, consider that ignorance fought on the Spartan. I will, however, stand by my vote for the Thermaell. Either the USB powered style or the butane one. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2021, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/16 "2021-05-31T23:46:42Z")
I’ve never used one, but they make carbon dioxide mosquito traps, which sound interesting. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/17 "2021-06-01T00:17:53Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > I don’t know if these will help you, because it doesn’t sound like standing water is contributing to your problem, but lots of people swear by [dunks](https://www.amazon.com/Summit-responsible-solutions-110-12-Mosquito/dp/B0000AH849/ref=asc_df_B0000AH849/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=198076816763&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=13797295605941834102&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032793&hvtargid=pla-328943551812&psc=1). I do use these. I buy them from [amazon in packs of 20.](https://smile.amazon.com/Summit-responsible-solutions-185502-Mosquito/dp/B0002568YA/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=mosquito+dunks&qid=1622506366&sr=8-3) BTW, they are not harmful to animals. They’re some kind of bacteria that’s harmful to mosquitoes. (That bacteria is my best friend.) I read (maybe in the reviews) that some lady’s dog ate one (they’re doughnut-shaped) and was perfectly fine. [Mosquito Bits](https://smile.amazon.com/Summit-Chemical-Company-Mosquito-30-oz/dp/B08L9Q1J3T/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=mosquito+bits&qid=1622506469&sr=8-5) are a similar product that you sprinkle in standing water. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/18 "2021-06-01T00:33:18Z")
I’ve got 30 acres of wetlands right to the west of my house. It’s a hopeless task to try to keep mosquitos from breeding here. DEET is just a way of life for that problematic time period. They haven’t shown up yet (we last had frost less than two weeks ago so that helps) but they will. And they’ll be hungry. We do use our hot tub during the mosquito season, but we wear mosquito netting hats. It works. Usually the bugs aren’t too bad right down by the water’s edge of the Lake Michigan beach either, which is now about 75 feet east of the house. So we can move the folding chairs to the water’s edge. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/19 "2021-06-01T15:33:24Z")
I heard about this a few years ago, tried it and it actually worked. I bought an oscillating fan on a stand (Walmart-$20), plugged it in on the patio and didn’t have an issue with mosquitos at all. The fan also helps out if it’s hot and muggy! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2021, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300/20 "2021-06-01T16:44:40Z")
From the OP: > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > …yesterday I stood a tall oscillating floor fan on the deck and just let it run all day. The fan has been the most effective thing. Yup. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-mosquito-wars/943300.md?page=2)