this post was submitted on 10 Jul 2023
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To my knowledge there's no stagnant water on my property, I've run water through all my ptraps, and I'm careful to not leave doors open. Yet at any given time there's at least 3 in my house. I can't sleep, i can't sit on the couch, i can't exist in the fear of being sucked dry.

The breaking point is when i watched my dog get bit on her head. I'm ready to do whatever it takes and then some. I will kill a man if it saves me from these demons. Any ideas?

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[–] Blizzard@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 year ago

You haven't provided too much information about your location... but a common swift eats 20.000 insects a day and mosquitoes are one of their favourites. If they live in your area, look up online how to build a birdhouse that will suit their needs.

Normally, I would recommend citronella, either the grass or the candles, but I believe it is toxic to dogs.

I believe lavender, catnip and basil are safe, but they're all mints and may try to take over your garden or yard. They all grow very well in pots though.

You can also try setting a trap. Put out some soapy water. The females are the ones biting you and they need water to lay eggs. They'll fall in the water and the soap prevents them from escaping. I haven't actually tried this with mosquitos, just other pests, but I have friends who swear by it.

Anything short of premetherin yard fogging once a month is dicking around.

[–] Fantismal@lemm.ee 4 points 1 year ago

How frequently do you change the dog's water?

[–] unce@lemmy.dbzer0.com 4 points 1 year ago

Window screens, fly ribbons, and a Bug-A-Salt gun lol. The bug-a-salt shoots salt very fast to kill bugs.

[–] lntl@lemmy.sdf.org 4 points 1 year ago

CRISPr is what you need.

It's what we all need.

[–] JoMiran@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

Give them a perfect spot to breed, like a kiddie pool with standing water or a bucket or two. Then drop a mosquito dunk in each. The mosquitoes will be drawn to this perfect breeding ground but the dunks will kill the larvae. Once the adults die off, there will be no new ones to take their place.

Secondly, if you have a lawn, spray it thoroughly with insecticide. This will kill or repel the ones living in the grass.

[–] joelthelion@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

If all else fails, I hear mosquito nets are fairly efficient.

[–] monko@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

If you want to go full bore, nothing beats 100% DEET. It is like gasoline, but I have yet to find a more effective personal repellent.

[–] kittyrunningnoise@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago

DEET works... but it's worth mentioning that it will utterly destroy the polycarbonate lenses used for modern eyeglasses

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[–] Rufio@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Get a big outdoor box fan you see people rock in their garage gyms, cover the side that blows air out with a screen. Any mosquito flying near will get sucked in and stuck in the screen. At the end of the day/night spray the screen with rubbing alcohol.

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FWIW my yard would be full of mosquitos if we did not have a mosquito service treat it every 3-4 weeks. It's not a big yard, and my neighbors don't treat their yards. The mosquitos still stay out of our yard though.

Point is it can be done. Whatever the Mosquito businesses do - works. Hire one of you have the money to spend or try to figure out what the professionals do.

Half the battle is getting rid of water. Every few days walk around and pour out anything that collects rainwater.

[–] wabafee@lemm.ee 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Use a mosquito coil, manual way is to have huge pan put some oil then start swinging around the general area of the mosquitos you will eventually catch one. Put bleach on areas with possible mosquito larvae or where there is likely stagnant water in it. Introduce spiders and geckos in your home. Could also plant lavander/or any plant that is mosquito repellent lots online and introduce frogs in your garden.

[–] newguy208@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Before you go on an omnicide on the entire species, consider planting Neem tree. These naturally repel mosquitoes. You can also get their oil to burn in oil dispenser etc but be warned it stinks like hell. I prefer to have a small pot of it next to the window and once it grows big enough, put it in a permanent place in the ground.

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[–] zarquon@lemm.ee 2 points 1 year ago

I've had fantastic success spraying around my home with insecticides. Primarily treated for ticks but great on mosquitos too.

Primarily with bifenthrin. Not affiliated with that supplier.

For flying insects you need to spray on the leaves of nearby trees so you really do need a mist blower. Or have a local company do it.

[–] TheAnonymouseJoker@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I am from India and our summers are pretty bad, and the rainy season that follows up is both humid and a mosquito menace.

Apply mosquito killing creams or lotions. If you are too concerned about them, use natural essential oils made of plants that do this. They cost twice the chemical creams. No matter what you do with windows, cleaning standing waters, nets, electric rackets, you will still end up with those shitty flies making funny noises at your ear when sleeping. Peaceful sleeps and nights.

Use other measures as well, but the body cream/oil will be your final defense line that cannot be breached.

[–] FlatFootFox@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Get a bug guy to come spray the exterior of your place. They can use stronger stuff then folk’s indoor life hacks. Eventually they’ll stop getting in.

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