Thursday August 23, 2012, 10:01 am
I am a biologist and very familiar with the biological treatments that can be used to kill mosquitoes. The unfortunate problem is that the West Nile epidemic is becoming so widespread and so dangerous, with over 1,000 cases, that there is not time for the biological treaments such as BT. BT israelensis is one of the best control for mosquisotes as are oils, but, they must be applied to water in which larvae and nyphs live. The adults cannot be controlled in this manner. Spraying of pesticides is the initial best way to know down this epidemic. Biological treatments are very effective, but, they are slower and more limited.

A three pronged approch should be used now that the West Nile epidemic is so dangerous and wide spread. Spray pesticides to kill adults, clean up breeding areas (pools, etc.), and use the BT and oil on larger bodies of water to destroy larval forms.

Thursday August 23, 2012, 4:35 pm
thank you~

Thursday August 23, 2012, 8:11 pm
Maggie . Thanks for your info, but I'd rather see people take individual measures for themselves and their property, such as the items in my article as well as a strong natural immune system, and leave widespread pesticides out of the picture.

I understand thta West Nile has become very widespread. However, some would argue that even a thousand cases and a relative handful of deaths does not warrant exposing millions of people, their pets and animals and their gardens to pesticides. Regardless of how "safe" those pesticides are claimes to be (and one of the pesticides used for ground spraying is recognized as carcinogenic), odds are that something that kills one life form is less than healthy for other life forms.

Friday August 24, 2012, 5:48 am
Tony and Maggie are both correct if an ecologist may step in. The quandry here is whether to protect human life (from WNV) or the lives of many other insect species that will also be killed. Sorry, but harm to anything else is largely inconclusive. Tony hits on the solutions and they all hinge on personal responsibbility and action, two things this country has in very short supply in this age of expected entitlement.

Friday August 24, 2012, 10:25 pm
I guess it's a good thing I love garlic!

Friday August 24, 2012, 11:26 pm
Mosquito dunks are often called mosquito rings ' Where I live they are !
Also leave spiders alone !
Unless its actually dangerous [ venomous spider ] Don't spray or kill them , If its in an awkward spot they can
be safely moved , We have Orb Spiders outside our house they are very effective at catching mosquito's
Other spiders have made bordering webs across my fish pond .
In the house there's a few daddy longlegs .

Saturday August 25, 2012, 1:26 am
thanks.....noted, very interesting natural repellant...

Saturday August 25, 2012, 3:23 am
rosemary oil works fine as a repellant.

Saturday August 25, 2012, 7:44 am
dragonfly larvae work too. Get enough that they'll outnumber the mosquitos when they mature.

Saturday August 25, 2012, 5:49 pm
Thanks Tony, really wish more people would use natural methods.

Sunday August 26, 2012, 7:49 am

Chief Seattle, 1854
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect.

Cree Prophecy:
When all the trees have been cut down,
When all the animals have been hunted,
When all the waters are polluted,
When all the air is unsafe to breathe,
Only then will you discover
You cannot eat money.

Sunday August 26, 2012, 6:07 pm
Interesting, thanks :)