NEWS for North Dakotans
Agriculture Communication, North Dakota State
University
7 Morrill Hall, Fargo, ND 58105-5665
May 21, 1998
Warm spring and recent rain have launched flood-water mosquitoes that will fly five to 10 miles in search of a meal. The flood-water sort is especially annoying towards dusk and after dark, according to Phil Glogoza, entomologist for the North Dakota State University Extension Service. During the day this variety rests in the shade, on vegetation.
"Many attempts to manage mosquitoes focus on controlling them when they are larvae, the time when they are confined and most concentrated," says Glogoza. "But when soils are saturated and breeding sites numerous, this can be difficult."
He offers five anti-mosquito strategies:
n Where standing water is a problem around home or farmstead, use Bacillus thuringiensis, variety israelensis, sold as Mosquito Dunks, Bactimos, Teknar and Vectobac. Mosquito Dunks, packaged as briquets, are slow-release, working for about 30 days. They remain effective even with the alternate wetting and drying that occurs in ponding sites.
n Eliminate small water sources—such as bird baths, wading pools, old tires—that might serve as breeding sites,
n For short-term relief, such as for a backyard picnic, spray the area 12 to 24 hours prior to the event. This will ensure that the spray has dried on vegetation and that mosquitoes have begun to die before the guests arrive. Most homeowners can use sprays containing malathion or carbaryl (Sevin). These should be directed at vegetation where mosquitoes rest during the day. Treat at dusk or early in the morning. The protection will temporary, since new adults will migrate into the area or emerge from breeding sites.
n Farmstead option: farmers who use Tempo to treat grain bins will discover, on reading the label, that this product is approved to treat landscape shrubs and tall grass for control of several nuisance pests, including mosquitoes. But it should be used only by licensed applicators. And it is not approved for application to edible crops in the garden.
n Use a personal repellant containing DEET. This is the best option. It will last from one to five hours, depending on the proportion of DEET in the repellant. When using it read all directions, don't spray in enclosed areas, don't apply over cuts or wounds or irritated skin, don't apply to eyes or mouth and don't apply to the hands of children. For children use a product containing less than 20 percent DEET. Avoid breathing the DEET aerosol, and don't use it near food.
Glogoza mentions several things that don't defend against mosquitoes. One is black lights or "bug zappers." Not effective, he says. They attract lots of insects, but very few are mosquitoes.
Also, wearing a personal ultrasonic device to repel mosquitoes has not been shown to effective.
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Source: Phil Glogoza (701) 231-7581
Editor: Barry Brissman (701) 231-7866