Anybody using one of those mosquito control devices that use propane to create CO2 as an attractant? My Dad uses one in North Carolina and swears by them.
I would think it would be great to put in the yard to help the martins out!
SkeeterVac or Other Mosquito Control
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Guest
Build a bat house.
Little brown bats can eat 600 mosquitoes per hour during peak feeding times.
Check out Bat Conservation International's website at http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp
I could be wrong, but bats obviously feed on nocturnal insects (moths, mosquitoes, etc) where martins feed on high-flying insects by day, so I don't see where they would cross-compete for food.
Little brown bats can eat 600 mosquitoes per hour during peak feeding times.
Check out Bat Conservation International's website at http://www.batcon.org/home/default.asp
I could be wrong, but bats obviously feed on nocturnal insects (moths, mosquitoes, etc) where martins feed on high-flying insects by day, so I don't see where they would cross-compete for food.
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Guest
According to everything I have read, Martins don't eat hardly any mosquitoes if any at all.
I am aware of this and the questions was pertaining to reducing mosquitos that feed on birds. Martins and their young get repeatably bitten by mosquitos in heavily infested areas or areas near water. I'm looking for a way to reduce the mosquito population that prey on martins.pstephen2000 wrote:According to everything I have read, Martins don't eat hardly any mosquitoes if any at all.
A bat house would not be an option in my neighborhood. I'd have the media over at my house and a story on how the authorities are removing the bat site from my residence. The folks in the Houston area have been exposed by the over zealous media in which bats are bad. There were some cases in Houston recently where some school kids got bit and died from a bat bite. The media had everyone hipped up forming lynch mobs to get rid of all bats in Harris County. So, it's not good to have bats in Houston. I love bats myself, but I can't have them.
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
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Guest
Houston ought to ask Austin about bats. From what I read, the Austin folks love them. They eat several tons of insects each night as they leave their roost under the Congress Ave bridge.
About the CO2 things, some folks around here have had them and don't seem impressed. Maybe we just have so many mosquitoes that the CO2 machine can't control them all.
It is rediculous in this area, especially on wet years or if you live close to rice fields.
About the CO2 things, some folks around here have had them and don't seem impressed. Maybe we just have so many mosquitoes that the CO2 machine can't control them all.
It is rediculous in this area, especially on wet years or if you live close to rice fields.
Rob, I live right next to the Rice field's here in Katy! I have a bayou right behind my house too! Maybe I can lobby with the folks in Austin and get some help from them?I heard the SkeeterVac 5000 works very well, so I may be a test subject
I'm a "nestcamaholic" Is 18 hours a day a bad thing? (I have 2 this year, luckily I have 2 eyes!)
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Guest
I have the Mosquito Magnet and it woks well......have been using it for about 4 years now. Living up north here in Canada the varmits are the size of humming birds. Don't expect immediate results as the process is to break the hatching cycle ( about 3 weeks). Have had as much as 1000 mosquitoes in my trap at a time. Placement of the trap is important so read the directions well.
Good Luck
Good Luck
It would be mandatory to rid of those beasts!-
Guest
I did not understand your intended inferance the way the question was written. And since Martins live for most of the time near water, I would think that they have evolved enough to combat most diseases ( West Nile ? ) or problems mosquitoes may cause. In fact, do you know that your intent is beneficial ? A theory in the medical field is that our children today are to clean. They don't build up immunities to everyday bacteria and viruses, because they are not exposed to the extent that people were in the past.
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Guest
I have the mosquito Magnet in Katy Texas and I am not sure it works for more than about 30 ft. If I keep it behind the garage by the veg garden then that area is free but my porch is full. and vice versa.
One tank last 3 weeks and I only get about a dozen mosquitos in the net. I can swat that many on my arm in 3 weeks.
I have decided that its only worth burning propane when the mosquitos are swarming. I have tried the bait that came with it but dont see any difference (and they dont give that bait away!)
One tank last 3 weeks and I only get about a dozen mosquitos in the net. I can swat that many on my arm in 3 weeks.
I have decided that its only worth burning propane when the mosquitos are swarming. I have tried the bait that came with it but dont see any difference (and they dont give that bait away!)
has anyone tried Mistaway? It is that system that sprays every 15 minutes or so. They place the tubing around your whole yard. I thought about that but I was worried about my martins, also I heard that the price is over $1000 (Ouch). I heard that the CO2 tanks (traps) dont work. I am not sure what to do. When it gets dark I cannot enjoy the outdoors.
http://www.mistaway.com/info.cfm?ID=125&menu=MENUBAS
http://www.mistaway.com/info.cfm?ID=125&menu=MENUBAS
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Guest
Be careful with the misting systems. The poison they use is not as safe as they claim and it will kill everything in your yard. The main problem is they are so expensive that people overuse them trying to get the most bang for their buck. I will think you will find they are more than $1000 also. I am considering one that I could run when I wanted and control how much poison is sprayed in my yard and neighboring yards.
I believe they are the only sucessful method of controlling mosquitos. Just be careful.
I believe they are the only sucessful method of controlling mosquitos. Just be careful.