Eddie Baggs: Take the bite out of mosquito season with prevention methods

12:05 AM CDT on Sunday, May 1, 2011

Eddie Baggs

Mosquitoes can ruin the best-laid outdoor summer plans, because not only do they produce a painful bite during feeding, but they can transmit West Nile virus to humans and horses, and heartworms to dogs.

With temperatures above 70 degrees and heavy rains, mosquito populations will soar.

The best control is eliminating breeding sites. Mosquitoes like shallow standing water in areas such as old tires, cans, bottles, birdbaths, flower pots, poorly draining gutters and hollowed-out tree stumps, or any standing shallow water that also has organic matter. Mosquitoes can breed in any puddle that lasts more than four days. Mosquitoes rarely breed in pools or large bodies of water because they are too deep. Ponds usually contain fish and minnows that will keep mosquitoes in check.

For larger bodies of water that cannot be drained — such as shallow ponds, ditches or low areas — “doughnuts” or “mosquito dunks” can be used. These larvicides contain bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and are highly effective. Bt is an environmentally friendly, natural, nonpolluting, bacterially produced chemical. These products are applied directly to the water, killing all fly larvae including mosquitoes and are safe for use around animals.

Temporary outdoor suppression may include aerosol foggers; however, this is short-lived, and mosquitoes will continue to return until breeding sites are eliminated. Candles and torches do not provide much control. Bug zappers attract mosquitoes to the yard but are not a complete control method. They usually kill more beneficial insects than problem insects.

Horses can be vaccinated for West Nile. Dogs can be checked for heartworms and given a preventative treatment. Children can be sprayed with insect repellents. But the most important step any property owner can take to control mosquito populations is to remove all man-made sources of stagnant water in which mosquitoes could breed.

EDDIE BAGGS, extension agent with the Texas AgriLife Extension Service in Denton County, can be reached at 940-349-2880.

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