Skeeter-proofing a yard with a pond?

[IHDiesel73L]

We're about to close on 2 isolated acres with a small pond in the rear. It's a nice little spot in the woods that we want to use for picnics, bonfires, campouts with the kids, etc... One of the first things I'm too going to do is put up a bat house and drop some mosquito fish in the pond. We'll use citronella torches while we're back there of course, but what about those propane mosquito traps? Do they really work? I've seen claims of up to an acre of coverage. Any other good tips? I've looked into an aerator but they are pricey and with the pond being a good 500' from the house running the electric would be pricey too.

 

[BoylermanCT]

We have a 2 acre pond about 150 feet from the house. It is not stagnant, but is a natural pond, with a stream coming in on one side and out on the other and is a natural haven for all kinds of bugs. We did the bat houses, citronella torches and added an electric bug zapper. That said, we are very glad our porch is screened in! My brother has a propane trap, and it catches a lot of mosquitos, but is expensive to run. A bug zapper is cheaper and equally effective. But if power is an issue, the propane traps do work.

 

[CalG]

put the bug zapper on the property adjacent... Their first function is to ATTRACT mosquitoes.

 

[zzvyb6]

We have had lots of bugs and deer flies in the past. I've put up a lot of bluebird and tree swallow houses (as in one on every other fence post). We now even have a nesting family under one of the eaves which I have knocked down in the past. Not this year, though. And this year we have VERY few bugs. There have been 3 broods of tree swallows in one nest under the eaves (one at a time). Number 3 has just left. We have noticed that the first 'family' helps feed the number 2 group, and number 1 and number 2 help feed the number 3 nestlings. It's quite busy out on the patio and we enjoy watching all the action. And no bugs at all.

Down by the pond, I sometimes use a Burgess propane fogger (Home Depot). In the morning stroll down the lane to the pond, you will not see a flying bug for 2 or 3 days. After that, its a nightmare.

Home Depot also now carries a spray with 40% DEET. I spray my clothing and hat with that stuff. Seems to work exceptionally well.

 

[HCJtractor]

forget the propane traps. i had one and it was not effective. The propane foggers also were minimslly effective. Go to a website "bugspray.com" they have a wealth of honest information on all pests. i learned to control mosquitoes here. i use a Solo mist fogger (much like a backpack blower) you can fog an acre in minutes. I use a mix of pyrethrin (quick kill), permethrin (residual long term) and Nylar (an larva gtowth inhiibitor) i spray every 3 weeks. incredibly effective. With a pond, i would add some other growth regulators that they sell.
All this is clearly explained on their website. they sell all these products. I recommend them highly (and i have no association with them) i think they are in Georgia. The fogger is expensive but high quality. The chemicals are inexpensive, except the Pyrethrin. But it only takes a little (1 or 2 oz per gallon) and 3 gallons of spray easily does my whole yard.
This is same fogger many companies use and charge up to $100 per visit. Mine works so well, that my neighbors pitch in the cost of chemicals and i spray their yards. I now can go outside at night and never get biten i hate wearing repellant and using cittonella. This method works, i guarantee!

Bugspray.com is a great resource. I've learned about whiteflies, cave crickets,bedbugs, mice, flying squirrels in attics, and even beavers. And bought chemicals and traps for all those pests from them

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[oosik]

I have a natural four acre lake right off my front porch. Fortunately, I also have bats, barn swallows and cliff swallows. Nasty biting, stinging bugs are but a minor concern.

When I built our log cabin in Alaska, I found that those propane fired foggers only work for the shortest of time. Fire it up, fog the h*ll out of the area, run for cover and slather up with bug repellent because you have made them mad and they are on their way back.

Citronella candles are the same a foggers. We found that in the evening if you throw moose dung on the camp fire the nasty smoke kept a lot of the mosquitos at bay. Gave your hotdogs and marshmallows a particular whang also.

 

[teg]

There are good bugs (that eat mosquitoes) that are killed by bug zappers... bug zappers rarely attract mosquitoes. Mosquitoes are attracted mainly by perspiration, body odor and CO2. The propane mosquito traps produce CO2 to attract mosquitoes but they usually attract more than they can kill. One of the best ways to control mosquitoes is not bats but instead, dragonflies. Unfortunately, bats love dragonflies more than mosquitoes. (bigger bang for the buck).

Chemicals do work, but you would be killing a bunch of other bugs... "The only good bug is a dead bug" (over heard in a campground bathroom conversation).

Does your pond have any stagnate water area? Flat area where fish can't get to?

 

[Old Red]

HCJ Tractor is correct. Except I use domyownpestcontrol.com. I have learned and used tons of stuff on there. While I don't have a pond my mosquito pressure is minimal now. As are ants, spiders and other critters. I do have a skunk now each night out in the lawn. He isn't really hurting anything and if he didn't carry the treat of spraying me I wouldn't care about him.

 

[check]

forget the propane traps. i had one and it was not effective. The propane foggers also were minimslly effective. Go to a website "bugspray.com" they have a wealth of honest information on all pests. i learned to control mosquitoes here. i use a Solo mist fogger (much like a backpack blower) you can fog an acre in minutes. I use a mix of pyrethrin (quick kill), permethrin (residual long term) and Nylar (an larva gtowth inhiibitor) i spray every 3 weeks. incredibly effective. With a pond, i would add some other growth regulators that they sell. All this is clearly explained on their website. they sell all these products. I recommend them highly (and i have no association with them) i think they are in Georgia. The fogger is expensive but high quality. The chemicals are inexpensive, except the Pyrethrin. But it only takes a little (1 or 2 oz per gallon) and 3 gallons of spray easily does my whole yard. This is same fogger many companies use and charge up to $100 per visit. Mine works so well, that my neighbors pitch in the cost of chemicals and i spray their yards. I now can go outside at night and never get biten i hate wearing repellant and using cittonella. This method works, i guarantee! Bugspray.com is a great resource. I've learned about whiteflies, cave crickets,bedbugs, mice, flying squirrels in attics, and even beavers. And bought chemicals and traps for all those pests from them Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

Will have to check this out. My only concern is that the chemicals may cause harm to humans and pets.

 

[CincyFlyer]

Bat houses. Lots of them.