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

Sent from my iPhone using TractorByNet

 

[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.

 

[Old Red]

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

You are exposed to these pesticides all the time. Misting some more around on your trees and brush etc. you should be fine...I have found that if I take good care of the outside I never ever have to spray inside.

 

[the old grind]

The traps are intended to eliminate 'generations' by trapping females that seek blood protein by following CO2. Zappers kill more predators than skeeters, but draw both and must be installed to draw away from bldgs & folks. Fish and others will eat larva from most water, so hatching is profuse in small pockets of 'dark' (nutrient-rich) water. BT 'donuts' can be crumbled/spread more broadly than the package says, can become a Springtime routine, but work for me in 2 ac of submerged hardwoods next door.

Thermacell! Seems to keep all bugs out of the barn ... except for a wide variety spazzing on the floor within 10-20 ft of the device. It does what citronella candles do, but more efficiently. Best 'take with' by far. No sitting in the platform deer blind w/o it, and have yet to ever see a bug with it in action in any blind.

Lots of tree & barn swallows and bats, but never any boxes except for the bats. My place is a literal bug farm with acres of water, a migration 'oasis', and a paradise for bird watching. I don't mass-spray for bugs or weeds and appreciate how well the 'balance' is then as diverse as possible and with weeds a bigger chore to control (neighbors 'farm' them lol) than bugs ever have been. Using all of these elements one can still garner plenty of bites. A few always find you, but they're leaving me alone this year. lol

Bat houses are simple if you don't find plans easily online. Cedar or Redwood seem best to build vs CCA-treated or others. They're like cockroaches and bedbugs in (only) that they like to feel something against their backs. In Winter that should be other bats, but narrow chambers make up for fewer numbers within. Be sure to place 'em on the South side of a deciduous tree (in temperate zones) for shade in the Summer and warming sun in Winter. Facing with tar paper helps if you're as far North as some of us. t o g

 

[HCJtractor]

as far as toxicity, i understand the concern. But both permethrin and pyrethrin are approved for use in barns, food processing sites, etc This is addressed in website. but I'm no expert. But one must also weigh the danger of being biten, as far as disease transmission, allergic response, or just the nuisance.
But the effect on "good insects" is true. It probably does kill others such as bees, etc.
But frankly, I'd rather kill a few good bugs than be miserable being eaten alive while outside, or be covered in DEET, which can't be too good for you either. I hate wearing that chemical. it's a trade off. but all i can say is it works. My attitude isn't "green" but I'd rather not be itching!

An alternative to regular spraying would be to only fog with pyrethrin (quick kill knock down) just before the event and only that area, say if you're having a picnic. that would also work.

But using citronella torches, zsppers, Mosquito Magnet machines, propane foggers is in my opinion a waste of time. I did that for years here in muggy S. C. DEET is the only alternative, unless you cover up all skin with clothing. And i hate sitting around at a party or picnic smelling DEET

<CGColor 0x16734810> [<CGColorSpace 0x16637060> (kCGColorSpaceDeviceRGB)] ( 0 0 0 1 )

 

[check]

as far as toxicity, i understand the concern. But both permethrin and pyrethrin are approved for use in barns, food processing sites, etc This is addressed in website. but I'm no expert. But one must also weigh the danger of being biten, as far as disease transmission, allergic response, or just the nuisance. But the effect on "good insects" is true. It probably does kill others such as bees, etc. But frankly, I'd rather kill a few good bugs than be miserable being eaten alive while outside, or be covered in DEET, which can't be too good for you either. I hate wearing that chemical. it's a trade off. but all i can say is it works. My attitude isn't "green" but I'd rather not be itching! An alternative to regular spraying would be to only fog with pyrethrin (quick kill knock down) just before the event and only that area, say if you're having a picnic. that would also work. But using citronella torches, zsppers, Mosquito Magnet machines, propane foggers is in my opinion a waste of time. I did that for years here in muggy S. C. DEET is the only alternative, unless you cover up all skin with clothing. And i hate sitting around at a party or picnic smelling DEET <CGColor 0x16734810> [<CGColorSpace 0x16637060> (kCGColorSpaceDeviceRGB)] ( 0 0 0 1 )

I am always suspicious of "approved" products. Look what happened with DDT, and many others. I just don't trust the industry that produces chemicals. They are in the business of making money, and we have seen countless times before how that can override the safety of ttheircustomers.

 

[KennyG]

We have a 1/4 acre + pond just off our deck and basement walkout. For several years we have had the "Mosquito Squad" treat the property. It costs a bit but we have virtually no mosquitoes and no effort on our part. Their approach seems to be to treat the breeding areas at the right time and it seems to be very effective with little evidence of the treatment. This year we didn't contract with them because we were gone for much of the summer, and we clearly have more mosquitoes this year.

 

[jethroUSMC]

I am always suspicious of "approved" products. Look what happened with DDT, and many others. I just don't trust the industry that produces chemicals. They are in the business of making money, and we have seen countless times before how that can override the safety of ttheircustomers.

Yes this is a Necro post.... the entire DDT story and scare was and is BS by some moonbat, enviro-whackjob. More people have suffered or died needlessly since it's removal. IMO that was the point since Malaria is primarily in Africa and surrounding jungle type environments - think population control and zero respect for human life. Think about all of the diseases Mosquitos spread, now how about ticks? Lyme isn't the only disease.

Having DDT sprayed around where I grew up in the NE, never saw a tick in my life and I practically lived in the woods or farm fields, no shirt, no socks and cut off shorts - never a tick in 17 years. Go back there today, relatives and others all with Lyme and other tick borne health issues, one blade of grass near asphalt will get a few ticks crawling up your leg real quick anywhere in the state.