Comments on: How can I prevent mosquitos from breeding in a bird bath? http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/ Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:33:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Virus Chaser http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/comment-page-1/#comment-25408 Virus Chaser Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:30:36 +0000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/#comment-25408 Ahh... When I look through the answers I see a mix of actual solutions and also a number of myths. BIRD BATH SOLUTION: #1) Change the water weekly. REASONING: The typical mosquito goes from egg to adult in 7-10 days depending on the temperature/food available. By changing the water weekly you will prevent the cylce from completing. EFFECTIVENESS: 100% #2) Circulation. REASONING: By having moving water the mosquito will not lay eggs/larvae can't develop. This sounds good, but I have found mosquito larvae in moving water before (along the edges). EFFECTIVENESS:75-100% #3) Larvicide. A common larvicide (larvae killer) is available at most hardware stores. Look for the active ingredient of Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis isrealiensis) as it causes the larvae to die. It is VERY species specific and will not injure birds or any other creatures deciding to cavort in your birdbath. EFFECTIVENESS: 99.99999% (Almost perfect!!) #4) Larvicide OPTION #2 - Methoprene - Although effective against developing larvae, it does have not target effects (crustaceans and other insects may also be injured/affected by this product). EFFECTIVENESS: 90-100% #5) NO WATER! The most obvious and least fun of all of the options. No water = no mosquitoes. EFFECTIVENESS: 100% Any of these options will work, but I would choose #1 or #3. Good luck and enjoy the good weather! P.S. Some mosqutio MYTHS: #1) BATS CONTROL MOSQUITOES #2) BUG ZAPPERS CONTROL MOSQUITOES #3) CITRONELLA (CANDLES, TIKI TORCHES, PLANTS) Ahh… When I look through the answers I see a mix of actual solutions and also a number of myths.

BIRD BATH SOLUTION:

#1) Change the water weekly. REASONING: The typical mosquito goes from egg to adult in 7-10 days depending on the temperature/food available. By changing the water weekly you will prevent the cylce from completing. EFFECTIVENESS: 100%

#2) Circulation. REASONING: By having moving water the mosquito will not lay eggs/larvae can’t develop. This sounds good, but I have found mosquito larvae in moving water before (along the edges). EFFECTIVENESS:75-100%

#3) Larvicide. A common larvicide (larvae killer) is available at most hardware stores. Look for the active ingredient of Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis isrealiensis) as it causes the larvae to die. It is VERY species specific and will not injure birds or any other creatures deciding to cavort in your birdbath. EFFECTIVENESS: 99.99999% (Almost perfect!!)

#4) Larvicide OPTION #2 – Methoprene – Although effective against developing larvae, it does have not target effects (crustaceans and other insects may also be injured/affected by this product). EFFECTIVENESS: 90-100%

#5) NO WATER! The most obvious and least fun of all of the options. No water = no mosquitoes. EFFECTIVENESS: 100%

Any of these options will work, but I would choose #1 or #3. Good luck and enjoy the good weather!

P.S. Some mosqutio MYTHS:

#1) BATS CONTROL MOSQUITOES

#2) BUG ZAPPERS CONTROL MOSQUITOES

#3) CITRONELLA (CANDLES, TIKI TORCHES, PLANTS)

]]> By: vallopez2000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/comment-page-1/#comment-25407 vallopez2000 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:10:06 +0000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/#comment-25407 Put a goldfish in it. They are very hardy fish that can live in almost any water. They will eat any insect larve and algae too. Just keep it full of water and you wont have to worry about it. Put a goldfish in it. They are very hardy fish that can live in almost any water. They will eat any insect larve and algae too. Just keep it full of water and you wont have to worry about it.

]]> By: gvemethreesteps http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/comment-page-1/#comment-25406 gvemethreesteps Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:47:12 +0000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/#comment-25406 The BEST solution we have found for any kind of misquito issues is to buy tiki torches but put 1/3 kerosene and 2/3 citronella or lamp oil. Sounds crazy but it works and doesn't put off awful odor either. The BEST solution we have found for any kind of misquito issues is to buy tiki torches but put 1/3 kerosene and 2/3 citronella or lamp oil. Sounds crazy but it works and doesn’t put off awful odor either.

]]> By: Tranquil_Art http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/comment-page-1/#comment-25405 Tranquil_Art Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:05:05 +0000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/#comment-25405 Even if you change the water every three days you'll be cutting down on your chances of mosquitos breeding in the bird bath. You might be able to find a small (outdoor) pump that will swirl the water around in your birdbath too. - Water that has a good current in it or that gets constantly swished around a bit is too hard for mosquitos to lay eggs in. But then you might want a quiet pump as to not scare the birds away I would think. Or maybe even a small outdoor waterfall or water fountain type thing that could be put into the birdbath. Even if you change the water every three days you’ll be cutting down on your chances of mosquitos breeding in the bird bath.
You might be able to find a small (outdoor) pump that will swirl the water around in your birdbath too. – Water that has a good current in it or that gets constantly swished around a bit is too hard for mosquitos to lay eggs in. But then you might want a quiet pump as to not scare the birds away I would think.
Or maybe even a small outdoor waterfall or water fountain type thing that could be put into the birdbath.

]]> By: Tdogle http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/comment-page-1/#comment-25404 Tdogle Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:46:07 +0000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/#comment-25404 change the water daily. or get some water to flow into it constantly. change the water daily. or get some water to flow into it constantly.

]]> By: TheFinalMiracle http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/comment-page-1/#comment-25403 TheFinalMiracle Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:06:56 +0000 http://cutslist.com/how-can-i-prevent-mosquitos-from-breeding-in-a-bird-bath/#comment-25403 There is no better way than changing the water. Again putting some anti-mosquito chemical in it might prove harmful to the other aspects of birdbath. There is no better way than changing the water. Again putting some anti-mosquito chemical in it might prove harmful to the other aspects of birdbath.

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