How do you all fight mosquitos?

[NYCorchidman]

Other than spraying and using mosquito nets?

I bought a Citronella plant at a farmer's market the other day (Pelargonium citrosum).

I never really even seen mosquitos in NYC in the past few years, but this past week, I killed two (full of blood when killed).
When I saw this plant with a mosquito repellent sign, I just grabbed it.

Whether it will really do the work or not, I at least enjoying the scent myself and the beautifully shaped leaves are pleasing as well.
These are also supposed to be a flowering plant too I believe.

Anyone growing this plant knows how effect it is in protecting us from mosquitos?

Also, any other good way to keep mosquitos off???

[Discus]

Generally, you just need to reduce the overall population. If you can find where they're breeding and sort that out, you'll have the most success. But this can be in a puddle on a roof, or in a blocked gutter, or an old tyre in an abandoned lot... Good luck finding every possible spot in a city and drying it out!

Other than that, you can use traps to attract them; you can buy gas powered traps that use a mixture of CO2 and various mozzie attracting compounds to attract them to their death.

I've (in south africa) seen traps that attract them in with a nice puddle of water, and then raise the resulting egg masses out of the water as the sun heats the device, killing the eggs before they hatch.

Other than that, screen doors and windows!

[rosemadder]

From what I understand, Pelargonium citrosum is a geranium. It has a similar smell but is not related to the plants that most citronella comes from; lemongrass.

Cymbopogon citratus is the most common lemongrass, used for cooking.

Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus are the primary sources of citronella oil for insect repellent purposes. Nardus is invasive and likely not edible, but I'm not sure about the other one. Also not sure if they're effective for repelling the area around the plant, but they very well might be. It's much harder to find these to buy, though. Citratus, you can just pick up a bunch in the grocery store and root a new plant from that.

Originally Posted by Discus

I've (in south africa) seen traps that attract them in with a nice puddle of water, and then raise the resulting egg masses out of the water as the sun heats the device, killing the eggs before they hatch.

Heh what a lot of work, when they can just put a couple fish in the puddle and take care of it that way. Om nom.

It's really too bad that pitcher plants don't get them, they just serve as breeding pools.

[Discus]

No, these create an internal puddle (attracting them away from uncontrolled puddles in your area). Not all puddles will take fish either, and often no suitable indigenous fish species exist.

There are plenty of places in the world where introduced fishes (often Gambusia affinis, the so-called mosquitofish) are causing various degrees of chaos. Guppies have also been used with similar ill-effects.

[rosemadder]

Originally Posted by Discus

No, these create an internal puddle (attracting them away from uncontrolled puddles in your area). Not all puddles will take fish either, and often no suitable indigenous fish species exist.

There are plenty of places in the world where introduced fishes (often Gambusia affinis, the so-called mosquitofish) are causing various degrees of chaos. Guppies have also been used with similar ill-effects.

Gack! Introducing guppies into a new environment could be a NIGHTMARE, with the way they breed! Wonder whose bright idea that was.

Mosquito larvae are such an important food source for so many critters, I bet there are other critters in addition to fish that could be encouraged for control.

Ooh, like bats! It's always good to provide extra shelters for bats, although they range far enough they wouldn't be good for control in a specific yard.

And there's other insect nymphs, predatory water beetles and such. Pitcher plants don't work, but Utricularia graminifolia (native to asia) is one plant that will eat the buggers.

[isurus79]

In addition to the above suggestions, you can also eat certain foods that cause mosquitos to find you less appealing as a food source. Eating garlic, onions and vitamin B1 are supposed to make this happen. Living in NYC should let find plenty of good Italian restaurants with some mosquito repelling ingredients!

[Paul Mc]

I use a bug zapper that attracts them, although I usually turn it on for a few hours before having company over. Also, I buy nematodes annually and spray them around the yard as they eat harmful worms and larvae but tend to leave earthworks and other beneficial animals alone. Side note, nematodes also attack fleas and ticks which is excellent for my dogs. Additionally, I use citronella torches scattered around the walk paths and sitting areas, and also use mosquito larvae killing "dunks" in any pool of water. Seeks to work good for me, although last year I didn't do the nematodes and boy could I tell a difference!

[NatalieS]

Originally Posted by rosemadder

Pelargonium citrosum is a geranium.

Ah! Most of the plants commonly known and sold as geraniums are actually pelargoniums. A confusing misconception since they are both in the same family of plants.

[NYCorchidman]

Originally Posted by Discus

Generally, you just need to reduce the overall population. If you can find where they're breeding and sort that out, you'll have the most success. But this can be in a puddle on a roof, or in a blocked gutter, or an old tyre in an abandoned lot... Good luck finding every possible spot in a city and drying it out!

Other than that, you can use traps to attract them; you can buy gas powered traps that use a mixture of CO2 and various mozzie attracting compounds to attract them to their death.

I've (in south africa) seen traps that attract them in with a nice puddle of water, and then raise the resulting egg masses out of the water as the sun heats the device, killing the eggs before they hatch.

Other than that, screen doors and windows!

I live in an apartment in a big city. I only have so much control.

I was looking for something that I can do within my space.

---------- Post added at 08:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 PM ----------

Originally Posted by NatalieS

Ah! Most of the plants commonly known and sold as geraniums are actually pelargoniums. A confusing misconception since they are both in the same family of plants.

I was going to answer about it, but you already have!

Yeah, what people call geranium (those common garden plants in red, white, pink...) are acutally Pelargonium (genus name).
Geranium is a seperate genus name for different but related plants. I don't know who started the confusion but I guess it is too late to fix. lol

Also, citronella is sort of a nick name for the plant I bought.
Citronella oil is what you were talking about. The plant oil extracted from planted related to lemongrass.

---------- Post added at 09:05 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 PM ----------

Originally Posted by rosemadder

Gack! Introducing guppies into a new environment could be a NIGHTMARE, with the way they breed! Wonder whose bright idea that was.

Mosquito larvae are such an important food source for so many critters, I bet there are other critters in addition to fish that could be encouraged for control.

Ooh, like bats! It's always good to provide extra shelters for bats, although they range far enough they wouldn't be good for control in a specific yard.

And there's other insect nymphs, predatory water beetles and such. Pitcher plants don't work, but Utricularia graminifolia (native to asia) is one plant that will eat the buggers.

Guppies can only survive in the tropical zone and they are little fish not predators, so I don't think introducing guppised would cause much trouble if any. Then again, who knows?

Usually big game fish like bass or bluegill cause huge trouble as they multiply fast and eat other fish. well, they basically eat anything that they can swallow.

also, pythons in Florida brought in from Asia as pets and some very irresponsible and ignorant people dumped them out in the "wild" in Florida. now it is a problem.

Rats in New Zealand that wiped out many nonflying birds only found there. the list goes one and very sad.

---------- Post added at 09:07 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:05 PM ----------

Originally Posted by isurus79

In addition to the above suggestions, you can also eat certain foods that cause mosquitos to find you less appealing as a food source. Eating garlic, onions and vitamin B1 are supposed to make this happen. Living in NYC should let find plenty of good Italian restaurants with some mosquito repelling ingredients!

I eat lots of garlic and onions already.
and I also eat lots of fish and beans, which are rich in B1.

hmmm...where did you read about this??

---------- Post added at 09:10 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

I use a bug zapper that attracts them, although I usually turn it on for a few hours before having company over. Also, I buy nematodes annually and spray them around the yard as they eat harmful worms and larvae but tend to leave earthworks and other beneficial animals alone. Side note, nematodes also attack fleas and ticks which is excellent for my dogs. Additionally, I use citronella torches scattered around the walk paths and sitting areas, and also use mosquito larvae killing "dunks" in any pool of water. Seeks to work good for me, although last year I didn't do the nematodes and boy could I tell a difference!

Wow~
I like your various ways to keep mosquitos down!

[DavidCampen]

Originally Posted by NYCorchidman

Other than spraying and using mosquito nets?
...
Also, any other good way to keep mosquitos off???

Quite a few essential oils and essential oil isolates (volatile liquids from plants) repel mosquitos. Besides citronellol, related substances like geraniol are very good mosquito repellents and they are widely used in fragrance formulations. I have used 'Witness' by Jacques Bogart as a mosquito repellent when I sleep at night since I like the smell, but it was discontinued some years ago and may not still be available in the secondary market. For daytime use I also make my own various formulations that are less fragrant, using essential oils and aroma chemicals.

Edit:
I see that 'Witness' is still available in limited supply.
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