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Spraying

Out in Merritt, on the shores of the Bay River, the infestation of mosquitoes has been especially severe. Larry Jones says that a few weeks ago, he did a mosquito count in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control’s guidelines.

“In one minute,” he writes, “114 mosquitoes landed on my skin and clothing, and that count did not include many on my back and head.” To put that in to perspective, a count of 20-30 per minute is cause for concern for public health, especially if they are the type of mosquito that can spread disease.

Noting that the mosquitoes found here can spread both West Nile Virus and Triple E — Eastern equine encephalitis,“Larry Jones went in to action after the county announced it would not be spraying aerially.

He took the usual precautions – getting rid of standing water, raking up pine needle debris. He also has sprayed insecticide and sent along “information about an inexpensive and safe mosquito insecticide that can be applied with a hose sprayer.”

“The best hose type sprayer that I have found,” he says, is the “Gilmour 362 Pro Pre-Mix Sprayers. Ace Hardware stores sell them for about $18.”

Into that sprayer he puts Permethrin SFR 36.8%, a “Permethrin product that is safe and effective.” A quart, Larry says, is $39.95.

As You Live And Breathe, Take Care Of Your Lungs

Meanwhile, many people in the area say they are resorting to mosquito spray on themselves more than they have in other years. But you may not want to do that at the expense of your respiratory system.

Susan Koepp of Partners in Health medical practice in Oriental suggests not simply spraying it on yourself, but a more mindful application.

If using spray, put on a mask and then spray clothes, hat, gloves. Let the air clear then put on your clothes. Avoid spraying directly on the skin, many of these products are toxic and are definitely absorbed through the skin. Inhaling it is not a good idea either!”

Blowing Them Off

Just as winds blow them in, winds can also blow them out. Or at least can keep the mosquitoes away from your personal space. If you don’t have a good breeze coming through your porch, Bob Miller suggests that you can create your own:

Dr. Mike Raupp, an entomologist at the University of Maryland, suggests using an electric fan when sitting outdoors to keep them away. A mosquito can fly about 5 miles per hour, and most fans move the air faster than that.

A much smaller fan is involved in another approach. Claude LaFleur writes from Louisiana in praise of Thermacell mosquito repellers:

No, I don’t work for them nor do I sell them.. but I find that they are very good at keeping the little buggers away. I am a Lake Pontchartrain/Gulf Coast sailor and find them to be the only thing that can keep the skeeters away. We have lots of mosquitoes in the salt marsh and before I found the Thermacells, anchoring out in the bayous around here was almost impossible because they’d drive you below deck at sunset. They emit a scent that mosquitoes and gnats don’t like. I use one in the cockpit on the floor and one in the companionway to keep ‘em out. The scent is a derivative of chrysanthemum flower scent.. Check them out and report for your red splotched readers!

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Posted Wednesday October 19, 2011 by Melinda Penkava