fracmeister
Petroleum Engineer
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,686
You know, the ones that burn propane making CO2 and snagging the buggers.... anybody ACTUALLY have one? How do they work for you?
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"Mosquito Magnet" devices
- Thread starter fracmeister
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 4,798
Our town is implementing a mosquito abatement/eradication program. They decided to go with a couple of methods. One, spray permethrin every couple of weeks. Two, install Mosquito Magnets in the hot spots.
One of the places they put them was at the football field. The field is in a historical low swampy area. When the lights come on you can see nothing but skeeters in the air, biting the hell out of fans, players, and small vehicles.
They installed one on the track adjacent to the football field. It didn't get all of 'em, but you can go to a game now and not be bitten. If they added a second one I'll bet you wouldn't see a skeeter for a mile.
Mind you, they used the propane powered Mosquito Magnet Pro. It also has something that smells like a cow for an added attractant. There's a name for the stuff, but I can't recall it at the moment. Anyways, they spent about a grand on each one. M/M makes a couple of cheaper electrical powered units too, but they only cover like a half acre, whereas the pro picks 'em off an acre out. Cheapest M/M runs like $300. Coleman makes one too, as does another company that doesn't come readily to mind. Sorry bout the lapses in memory there, it's late.
At any rate, this outfit did tests on a bunch of models. They let loose 1000 skeeters in proximity to these units. The M/M pro got like 750 of 'em. The lower end M/Ms and the Coleman got just under half, but they also cost less than half as much. The Pro had the advantage of being wheeled out away from electricity as well.
Hope this is helpful. If you want some more skeeter stopping tips, just ask. I got a billion of 'em.
One of the places they put them was at the football field. The field is in a historical low swampy area. When the lights come on you can see nothing but skeeters in the air, biting the hell out of fans, players, and small vehicles.
They installed one on the track adjacent to the football field. It didn't get all of 'em, but you can go to a game now and not be bitten. If they added a second one I'll bet you wouldn't see a skeeter for a mile.
Mind you, they used the propane powered Mosquito Magnet Pro. It also has something that smells like a cow for an added attractant. There's a name for the stuff, but I can't recall it at the moment. Anyways, they spent about a grand on each one. M/M makes a couple of cheaper electrical powered units too, but they only cover like a half acre, whereas the pro picks 'em off an acre out. Cheapest M/M runs like $300. Coleman makes one too, as does another company that doesn't come readily to mind. Sorry bout the lapses in memory there, it's late.
At any rate, this outfit did tests on a bunch of models. They let loose 1000 skeeters in proximity to these units. The M/M pro got like 750 of 'em. The lower end M/Ms and the Coleman got just under half, but they also cost less than half as much. The Pro had the advantage of being wheeled out away from electricity as well.
Hope this is helpful. If you want some more skeeter stopping tips, just ask. I got a billion of 'em.
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2000
- Messages
- 4,798
Okay then, let me start out by recommending a visit to Bugspray.net for a good article on mosquito control. This is a good outfit, I have bought and used some of their products. That page gives good info and links to their product line.
I have found that by far the greatest impact on mosquitos is the habitat control method. I was amazed at just how little standing water it takes to attract and breed skeeters. I was equally amazed at just how many spots I had for them on my property. A rolled up tarp in the back yard held lots of little water pockets. The little terra cotta plates under the planters held plenty. They'll even use the collected water in a beer can to breed. The gutters was another one I had to remedy. Top that off by eliminating alot of the shaded brush areas around the property and you should see an improvement. Just make the area less attractive to them.
I have a four year old and a one year old crawling around the yard, so my preference for chemical application waned a bit. Hence the move toward clearing out the property of shade and standing water. I'll own a mosquito magnet soon enough as well. I also don't like the idea of slathering them down with deet all the time. My neighbors just can't get along without their little fish ponds, so I'll more than likely get them some mosquito dunks for those little skeeter love nests.
If you don't have kids, or are confident in the safety labels on some of the products, then spray the place down. I have used Fenvalerate (available on the above link) with good success. My neighbor applied Sevin (any garden supply place) and had good results. The Sevin kills any bug in the yard though.
Some of the neighbors even installed bat houses around their homes. The theory was that the bats would hang around the house and come out to feast on the skeeter population. I don't see any improvement between their yards and mine, though. We have so many mosquitos that a very large population of bats would have to work lots of overtime around the clock to get rid of them all.
Some of the things I've tried that DID NOT work:
Citronella candles- Nope, they don't work.
Avon Skin-so-soft - Not enuff oomph to push them away.
"Skeeter repellent plants"- Got a row of 'em in the yard with mosquitos buzzing right past 'em.
Ultrasonic repeller- Got it as a gift. Supposed to turn it on and carry it, the sound is supposed to scare them off. Waste of a AAA battery IMHO.
Electric bug zapper- The flourescent light looking one. Skeeters ain't attracted to it, they are attracted to humans. Sure kills the moths and flies though.
If I had a PILE of money, I'd use it to move out of this infested neighborhood. Seriously. And I am working on it to this day. If I had a GRAND to blow, I'd have the propane powered Mosquito Magnet Pro humming along out there right now. It's by far the safest, most effective, easiest direct application that I've seen to date. Check some models out at www.mosquitomagnet.com or www.coleman.com, or even www.skeetervac.com. But if you are like me and don't have a bunch of cash to spend, go clean up that yard. Get rid of the water and the shady stuff, go douche the yard down with some Fenvalerate or some Sevin and put on either deet or long pants and shirts.
Good luck.
I have found that by far the greatest impact on mosquitos is the habitat control method. I was amazed at just how little standing water it takes to attract and breed skeeters. I was equally amazed at just how many spots I had for them on my property. A rolled up tarp in the back yard held lots of little water pockets. The little terra cotta plates under the planters held plenty. They'll even use the collected water in a beer can to breed. The gutters was another one I had to remedy. Top that off by eliminating alot of the shaded brush areas around the property and you should see an improvement. Just make the area less attractive to them.
I have a four year old and a one year old crawling around the yard, so my preference for chemical application waned a bit. Hence the move toward clearing out the property of shade and standing water. I'll own a mosquito magnet soon enough as well. I also don't like the idea of slathering them down with deet all the time. My neighbors just can't get along without their little fish ponds, so I'll more than likely get them some mosquito dunks for those little skeeter love nests.
If you don't have kids, or are confident in the safety labels on some of the products, then spray the place down. I have used Fenvalerate (available on the above link) with good success. My neighbor applied Sevin (any garden supply place) and had good results. The Sevin kills any bug in the yard though.
Some of the neighbors even installed bat houses around their homes. The theory was that the bats would hang around the house and come out to feast on the skeeter population. I don't see any improvement between their yards and mine, though. We have so many mosquitos that a very large population of bats would have to work lots of overtime around the clock to get rid of them all.
Some of the things I've tried that DID NOT work:
Citronella candles- Nope, they don't work.
Avon Skin-so-soft - Not enuff oomph to push them away.
"Skeeter repellent plants"- Got a row of 'em in the yard with mosquitos buzzing right past 'em.
Ultrasonic repeller- Got it as a gift. Supposed to turn it on and carry it, the sound is supposed to scare them off. Waste of a AAA battery IMHO.
Electric bug zapper- The flourescent light looking one. Skeeters ain't attracted to it, they are attracted to humans. Sure kills the moths and flies though.
If I had a PILE of money, I'd use it to move out of this infested neighborhood. Seriously. And I am working on it to this day. If I had a GRAND to blow, I'd have the propane powered Mosquito Magnet Pro humming along out there right now. It's by far the safest, most effective, easiest direct application that I've seen to date. Check some models out at www.mosquitomagnet.com or www.coleman.com, or even www.skeetervac.com. But if you are like me and don't have a bunch of cash to spend, go clean up that yard. Get rid of the water and the shady stuff, go douche the yard down with some Fenvalerate or some Sevin and put on either deet or long pants and shirts.
Good luck.
fracmeister
Petroleum Engineer
- Joined
- May 26, 1999
- Messages
- 1,686
The best price I have seen for the MM Pro is 995 + 35$ shipping. Anybody able to do better? I am ready to get one.
I bought the Mosquito Magnet about 3 weeks ago ($300.00). I had done some research and it sounded pretty good. Unfortunately after three weeks it hasnt done much good. I have checked the trap several time and we have a grand total of 11 mosquitoes caught. I think I will give it another week and then take it back to home depot. I live in austin, tx near the lake and the mosquitoes are really bad here. There is also very little wind in my back yard so this could affect the performance.
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2002
- Messages
- 363
Consumer Reports just did a review on these devices. They said they were significantly better then the traditional light bulb bug zapper. But, they also said they are pricey to buy and operate. Still, if you and your neighbors had a bunch of these units in your block, they said it would make a difference.
If you want, I could try to find the issue for you. I'm sure it was within the last year.
Bruise
If you want, I could try to find the issue for you. I'm sure it was within the last year.
Bruise