Skeeter-proofing a yard with a pond?

[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

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[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.