Mosquito's

[bmuscotty]

Who was it that drives around neighborhoods and sprays for mosquito's? Is it the health department of the city? Do they still offer the service?

[patric]

Who was it that drives around neighborhoods and sprays for mosquito's? Is it the health department of the city? Do they still offer the service?

Mosquito Control, Tulsa City/County Health Dept. 918-595-4200

They may also be the reason we dont have fireflies in Tulsa anymore...

[Gaspar]

We have tons of fireflys and the Mosquito truck hits our neighborhood hard because we are right on a river.

[patric]

We have tons of fireflys and the Mosquito truck hits our neighborhood hard because we are right on a river.

In midtown, the spray they use only temporarily knocks down the mosquitoes, but the fireflies disappear for the year.


There's alternatives to spraying chemicals:  Bat houses.
Wild Birds Unlimited at 5960 S Yale (918) 477-7408 ‎ has some pre-made, with instructions on how to use them.   

[Gaspar]

My cousin (a biologist) once told me that fireflies and other animals that communicate with light don't like artificial light sources that cycle.  Florescent, high pressure sodium, LED,  and metal halide lights actually flicker at 60 cycles a second.

We put up two bat houses and always have at least half a dozen of the little critters flickering around in the evenings. 

I believe they still use Malathion for the spray, at least that's what it smells like.  Even with our little bats and our hillbilly entertainment centers (bug zappers).  Without the spray treatments we get eaten up!  We're good for about a month after each spray.  I can always tell, because my bug zapper gets about a cup worth of dead mosquitoes each night. After the spray I only get June bugs.

[bmuscotty]

Thanks!

[TheArtist]

  I have heard that the bug zappers actually do more harm than good.  They also zap bugs that eat mosquito's, aka kills 20 mosquitoes along with another couple bugs that would have eaten 40.  

[Gaspar]

 I have heard that the bug zappers actually do more harm than good.  They also zap bugs that eat mosquito's, aka kills 20 mosquitoes along with another couple bugs that would have eaten 40.  

In about a month, you are free to test that hypothesis. 

I have a wife who is the origional mosquito magnet and two kids who are close seconds.  We do ok when the zapper is on from 6 to midnight.  If I leave it off for a few days or the light burns out (happens at least twice a year).  We get eaten up pretty quick.

The mix is usually about a hundred mosquitoes to every other bug in the zapper.  Mayflies and mosquitoes are the primary victims, but the occasional moth and yellow jacket make for a nice long "sizzler."

[patric]

 I have heard that the bug zappers actually do more harm than good.  They also zap bugs that eat mosquito's, aka kills 20 mosquitoes along with another couple bugs that would have eaten 40.  

I understand that's why bug zappers went out of style (that they kill more "beneficial insects" than mosquitoes), Gaspar's situation may be the exception to the rule.

[Conan71]

In about a month, you are free to test that hypothesis. 

I have a wife who is the origional mosquito magnet and two kids who are close seconds.  We do ok when the zapper is on from 6 to midnight.  If I leave it off for a few days or the light burns out (happens at least twice a year).  We get eaten up pretty quick.

The mix is usually about a hundred mosquitoes to every other bug in the zapper.  Mayflies and mosquitoes are the primary victims, but the occasional moth and yellow jacket make for a nice long "sizzler."

Your wife and kids need to drink more beer.  Brewer's yeast is supposed to be a great repellant.  Only reason I can explain why they don't care much for me.

[Gaspar]

Your wife and kids need to drink more beer.  Brewer's yeast is supposed to be a great repellant.  Only reason I can explain why they don't care much for me.

They bite me, but it never causes a "mosquito bite."  I don't have any histamine response to them for some reason.  Bites on my wife look like she's been beat with a pillow case full of golf balls, even when she hasn't for a while!

[custosnox]

I am one of those that misquitos normally don't care for.  I thank my high dosages of garlic in my diet for that.  Luckily, if they do decide to come after me the bites go away within a few hours, if that long.  I do like the idea of more bats though, I've always liked sitting out and watching them dine.

[heironymouspasparagus]

We are getting a lot of bats this year.  It is great!

Some mosquitos, but not too bad.

[Red Arrow]

We are getting a lot of bats this year.  It is great!
Some mosquitos, but not too bad.

I thought you had bats in your belfry.

[heironymouspasparagus]

Probably.  But definitely in the back yard!!