Mosquito Fogger or Mist Blower

[Glenn9643]

I found this post from last July when searching for information in the archives, and would like to know if anyone has found a reasonably priced fogger or mist blower to combat mosquitoes.
I would like to be able to roam over our twenty acres without breathing them or having them in my ears at least. The DeepWoods OFF helps keep the bites down but they're still terrible pests! I did locate a 3pt mounted mist blower for about $3,000.00 that may be the best I can do...

 

[mahlers]

Have you looked at Mosquito Magnets yet? I've got three of them and they seemed to do a good job of thinning out the mosquito population without turning the property into a toxic waste site. They're expensive, and often difficult to properly locate, but they do work.

 

[have_blue]

What do municipalities use to fog? My guess is that it's white gas or a diesel-like fuel sprayed on something hot, and fanned out. All it takes is a tiny droplet of oil to plug the mosquitoes breathing pores and they're dead.

I think an old 4 stroke mower engine would work. Simply inject some light, relitively odor-free oil into the muffler! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Glenn9643]

Yes, I have a Liberty model MM that seems to work pretty well for about an acre, but I would like to expand my comfort zone. I posted a question here the other day trying to find other users who may be knowledgeable of "Lurex", which is a new attractant they have out for asian tiger mosquitoes, but didn't get any response so I didn't figure there were any readers who used them.
We have twenty acres here and with all the rain, being unable to bushhog or mow regularly, etc. the mosquitoes are terrible. I've been emptying the mosquito magnet about every other day as well as using a propane fogger around the house and vegetable garden area which helps.
The parish government (county) here has a mosquito control effort that includes limited aerial spraying and a truck that seems to be for voter comfort or reassurance more than to control mosquitoes. If I could get into a mist blower for $1500 or so I believe that would allow me to greatly reduce the population on the entire property when conditions are such as they are now. After things dry up the problem will pretty much go away if you do simple things like watch for standing water and keep the grass clipped.

 

[Glenn9643]

Blue,
Around here they are using a mist blower of sorts mounted on a truck. The mist is invisible to the eye, and apparently is more toxic than what they've used in the past because they announce on TV the areas they will be spraying to ask people to be indoors when it is done. If the driver sees anyone outside they turn the mister off until well past that area. I'm not certain of the insecticide they're using but believe that if I can find a suitable mist blower I can find the appropriate chemical. I like this one, but am hoping to find something less expensive. I think this one is about $3,000.00.
If I'm unable to come up with a suitable mist blower I think a fogger could be fabricated that operated as you mentioned, similar to a Burgess propane fogger, and possibly even using their fogging oil. I believe a mist blower would be cheaper to operate though and have greater range. Indications are that the mist will blow up to 140 feet depending on model.

 

[chucko]

3K? sure does not look like it would take 3k to make one of these

Maybe I am missing something but a old blower motor running off the PTO and a tank dripping/pumping with a sprayhead in the blower is all it looks like

But then to me all these 3pt sprayers look like they cost way too much for what they are

 

[nomad]

The high price of mist blowers are due to the cost of high pressure diaphram pumps and also due to the tank material usually polyethlyene. However, $3000 is still high for me too. Attached picture shows most popular mist blowers here. Mounting on the trucks is easy. But its price will be higher because you will be spending some extra money also for an engine or a motor.

 

[BobReeves]

Not sure how long it would last but a 5 gal plastic bucket, a windshield washer pump, old furnace blower, a few pieces of angle iron, and a couple of pulley's could be thrown together for almost nothing. Use the PTO shaft off your bush Hog and It might even work /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

 

[BubbaJr]

Hi Glenn,

As you see from my post last summer, we have similar problems. I never did find an affordable mosquito fogger, and so I just stayed indoors when the bugs were at their worst. This year however I took a new direction and I think it will work.

Early this week I ordered a mosquito net for my head. It came today and so I put it to the acid test. We have 23+ acres with 18 of those in woods. I have not been able to get in the woods this year to mow my trails (about a mile total) or to even walk in there because of the mud and mosquitos. That is until today. I put on my bib overalls, a long sleeve shirt, socks, and shoes, then I topped it off with my cap and net hood. It worked great except for something I did that caused me to get a couple of bites. I made the mistake of putting on my ear muffs over the net instead of under it. The result was I sustained bites under both ears where the ear muffs pushed the net up tight to my skin. Live and learn. I also tucked the net inside my shirt to give me a little more protection. I am happy so say that for $12.95 I can now co-exist with the mosquitos and still get my work done.

The only downsides that I found was there was a little less air flow, your vision was obscured a little, and I had some minor itching where it contacted my skin. But then I am a pretty sensitive guy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Overall I am very pleased with the net, and I will probably get some extra ones for company. You won't win any fashion awards, and your kids may laugh at you and call you the bride of Frankenstien, or a bee keeper (if they know what they look like), but you can have the last laugh when you come in and don't have to go find the Benadryl.

Here is a link to the one I bought. Buzz Off Hood

This company also has a complete line of bug repellant clothing, and no I don't have any stock in the company. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Glenn9643]

Thanks for the link Bubba. They're bad enough now to make one forget "fashion".
Although the mist blowers that I've found to be available are too expensive I've not given up on the idea. I'm still thinking about trying a large squirrel-cage blower along with a conventional spray rig mounted on a frame and powered by the PTO. I've seen the blowers available cheap from old heating/cooling systems that should move enough air. It's "on my list" of potential projects.