Mosquitos - WTF??

[Nataly 38]

Can't stand them... And believe me the ones over here are NOTHING like as vicious or plentiful as my native New Brunswick... But DAMN they irritate me!! Can someone tell me what the fuck purpose do they serve?? Specifically?? Why have we not come up with a way to kill them off forever?? And finally, would we really miss them if they were gone??

If you have "home remedies" for getting rid of mosquitos, please share!! (I have bug spray... It doesn't work )

"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse."
- Chris Hadfield
« Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. »
- my boss

[skymama 37]

I'm actually working on making a mosquito trap today. This is the first attempt, so I'm not sure if it works! I read the key is to put it far away from your gathering area.

I also have a big box of these citronela bands and we wear these while camping on our ankles and wrists. They're no fashion statement, but neither are mosquito bites!

She is Da Man, and you better not mess with Da Man,
because she will lay some keepdown on you faster than, well, really fast. ~Billvon

[Nataly 38]

Cool - let me know how the coke-bottle trap works out - might have to try that out myself

"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse."
- Chris Hadfield
« Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. »
- my boss

[skydiver30960 0]

Complete eradication has been attempted, and it didn't go too well:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ddt


WRT the traps: I've heard and experienced great results from the commercial propane-fired ones. I haven't tried the converted 2L bottle ones yet, but others seem to like them. Set them up away from you, UNLESS you have an obvious source of mosquitoes. For example if you're partying it up at a bonfire that's a short distance from a riverside, set the trap up between the bonfire and riverside. The mosquitoes will be drawn to the light and heat of the fire but will hopefully be drawn to the trap before they get to you.

OR, move to Arizona. Not a damn one of the blood-suckers to be found.

Elvisio "we do have scorpions, though" Rodriguez

[airtwardo 7]

Here in Texas they mate with Buzzards...they're know to carry off animals & small children.

Shotgun works---deer rifle is better.

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[ryoder 1,590]

skymama

I'm actually working on making a mosquito trap today.

Anyone else think those repellent recipes would be great on salad?

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[oldwomanc6 52]

All you have to do is invite me to the cookout.


Everyone else is safe.



They love me.

lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

[Andy9o8 2]

Quote

Can someone tell me what the fuck purpose do they serve?? Specifically??

Sure. They're an important and vital part of the world's ecosystem - just as, for example, you are. Anyhow, here are a few articles on this very subject:

http://www.google.com/#q=what+place+do+mosquitoes+have+in+the+ecosystem&spell=1&sa=X&ei=clXjUdDRJ_ay4AOW8oDIDw&ved=0CCgQvwUoAA&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.dmg&fp=43343ac3cffa9ab0&biw=1024&bih=605

[turtlespeed 220]

Andy9o8

Quote

Can someone tell me what the fuck purpose do they serve?? Specifically??

Sure. They're an important and vital part of the world's ecosystem - just as, for example, you are. Anyhow, here are a few articles on this very subject:

http://www.google.com/#q=what+place+do+mosquitoes+have+in+the+ecosystem&spell=1&sa=X&ei=clXjUdDRJ_ay4AOW8oDIDw&ved=0CCgQvwUoAA&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.dmg&fp=43343ac3cffa9ab0&biw=1024&bih=605

Andy . . . you . . . in this thread . . . Too EASY!

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[FlyingRhenquest 1]

They're there for the bats to eat!

I'm trying to teach myself how to set things on fire with my mind. Hey... is it hot in here?

[airtwardo 7]

turtlespeed

***

Quote

Can someone tell me what the fuck purpose do they serve?? Specifically??

Sure. They're an important and vital part of the world's ecosystem - just as, for example, you are. Anyhow, here are a few articles on this very subject:

http://www.google.com/#q=what+place+do+mosquitoes+have+in+the+ecosystem&spell=1&sa=X&ei=clXjUdDRJ_ay4AOW8oDIDw&ved=0CCgQvwUoAA&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.48705608,d.dmg&fp=43343ac3cffa9ab0&biw=1024&bih=605

Andy . . . you . . . in this thread . . . Too EASY!

~ If you choke a Smurf, what color does it turn? ~

[BIGUN 1,312]

Avon Skin-so-Soft

Bath Oil first... Lotion second. (their lotion is better than their bug repellent).

Folks in these here parts bathe their dogs in the bath oil.

Nobody has time to listen; because they're desperately chasing the need of being heard.

[BillyVance 34]

FlyingRhenquest

They're there for the bats to eat!

Yep. I have seen bats flying circles over my house at sunset for years, no doubt devouring the mass quantities of mosquitoes in the skies here on the lake. They are fun to watch. Had one even make a close pass over me.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[Nataly 38]

BillyVance

***They're there for the bats to eat!

Yep. I have seen bats flying circles over my house at sunset for years, no doubt devouring the mass quantities of mosquitoes in the skies here on the lake. They are fun to watch. Had one even make a close pass over me.


So I should get a pet bat??

"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse."
- Chris Hadfield
« Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. »
- my boss

[Divergert 0]

Nataly

******They're there for the bats to eat!

Yep. I have seen bats flying circles over my house at sunset for years, no doubt devouring the mass quantities of mosquitoes in the skies here on the lake. They are fun to watch. Had one even make a close pass over me.


So I should get a pet bat??

Yes get a fruit bat

they are very good pets

[ryoder 1,590]

Since moving to CO, the only time I can recall encountering mosquitos, was the time I was in the mountains and hiked back to a waterfall.

But if I was a mosquito, looking at Nat's avatar makes me think that is someone i'd like to bite.

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Avikus 0]

As strange as it sounds, put Dryer Sheets in your pocket. Something about it keep the bugs away! Works for me every weekend!

Avikus - Packer and Jumper - Hate landing with the plane!

[Nataly 38]

Avikus

As strange as it sounds, put Dryer Sheets in your pocket. Something about it keep the bugs away! Works for me every weekend!

Huh... That does sound strange but at least I will smell good!!! Will try that

"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse."
- Chris Hadfield
« Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. »
- my boss

[Nataly 38]

ryoder

But if I was a mosquito, looking at Nat's avatar makes me think that is someone i'd like to bite.

Meh... That picture is the ONLY good picture of me ever taken and it looks NOTHING like me... Remi will vouch for the fact that I totally fit the "bland accountant" profile/stereotype...

"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse."
- Chris Hadfield
« Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. »
- my boss

[DrewEckhardt 0]

ryoder

Since moving to CO, the only time I can recall encountering mosquitos, was the time I was in the mountains and hiked back to a waterfall.

They're also a problem where farmers use flood irrigation.

[Amazon 7]

Nataly

Can't stand them... And believe me the ones over here are NOTHING like as vicious or plentiful as my native New Brunswick... But DAMN they irritate me!! Can someone tell me what the fuck purpose do they serve?? Specifically?? Why have we not come up with a way to kill them off forever?? And finally, would we really miss them if they were gone??

If you have "home remedies" for getting rid of mosquitos, please share!! (I have bug spray... It doesn't work )

Bug spray BAD it kills off the things that eat the damn things too.

Make or buy nice little bird boxes... that perhaps some swallows will move into. AMAZING how the skeeter population went down even though the little pond down the road is over its banks this year. ALSO.. make usre you have no standing water around your house, and talk with the neighbors as well. No water for them to breed.. no skeeters.

I have at least 9 pairs of swallows nesting in my birdhouses under the eaves and a few. several other species of small birs nesting in the other trees including 2 Robins nests where momma robin is currently sitting.

[ryoder 1,590]

Nataly

***

But if I was a mosquito, looking at Nat's avatar makes me think that is someone i'd like to bite.

Meh... That picture is the ONLY good picture of me ever taken and it looks NOTHING like me... Remi will vouch for the fact that I totally fit the "bland accountant" profile/stereotype...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwTGGHaCHAE&t=4s

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Nataly 38]

Google images of "cap martin roquebrune, village" and you will see why I can't use any of your (otherwise very good) advice...

The images where all the stone houses are built right on top of one another?? That's where I live. Nobody has a garden... Or can have a bird house (unless you want it indoors)... There are no ponds (it's all built on a hill - rain/water flows downwards... You can't have mosquito protection on your windows (it would be unsightly and not follow the strict building regulations in this historic part of the village)...

I've tried bug repellant (sorry, not really "bug spray") but it seems to make no difference. I'm surprised there are any skeeters here at all and yet here they are and they are bugging the hell out of me.

"There is no problem so bad you can't make it worse."
- Chris Hadfield
« Sors le martinet et flagelle toi indigne contrôleuse de gestion. »
- my boss

[billvon 2,991]

>Yes get a fruit bat . . .they are very good pets

They are pretty cool, but unfortunately they eat fruit, not mosquitoes.

[NorrinRadd 0]

Mosquitoes, just like all living organisms, do not exist to fill a purpose. They exist because they have evolved certain attributes which allows them to continue their own survival. That said, just like all other species, they have settled into a certain ecological niche. At the forefront, they are a very plentiful food source for many other species, such as birds, bats, and other insects. It has only been a recent thing that biologists step back from studying individual species, and look at how all life forms within any given biosphere are co-dependent. There still is a lot of work to be done in that field... and some of the answers may be surprising, when they come out.

I go camping in the northern parts of Canada every once in a while. The mosquito populations there are insane. They can literally make you go crazy.... swarms of the little vampiric bastards are flying around in the bush. No repellant works 100%... you basically just have to get used to the fact that you will get bit You develop a tolerance and resistance to the itch. Eating certain foods makes you more attractive (like bananas) or less attractive (like garlic). I have tried avon's skin so soft, and up there all it does is ad a little spice to the mosquitoes' meal. No deterrent whatsoever. The absolute best repellant I have used had no deet in it at all. It has essential oils, instead: lavender, neem, catnip, and basil. I don't know if the buggers are tricked into thinking you are a bloodless salad or what, but I have seen tons of them literally land on me and then take of without biting. Neem is being seriously explored as a cheap repellant for use in malaria stricken countries, too.
Edit: You can also buy vitamin B patches, that slowly releases vit B into your bloodstream. This makes you a lot less tasty, too.

Why drive myself crazy trying to be normal, when I am already at crazy?