how to rid mosquitos from rain water

[brewmyster]

OK thanks. Will the mosquito rings kill the wigglers that are already in the water or do they just prevent them from getting into water?

Also I like the idea of the screen over the top

Thanks for the suggestions
Mark

[Ross]

Originally Posted by brewmyster

OK thanks. Will the mosquito rings kill the wigglers that are already in the water or do they just prevent them from getting into water?

Also I like the idea of the screen over the top

Thanks for the suggestions
Mark

They kill the wigglers. Also the reserve insecticide is good for the orchids, as it kills several wormy things that could be in the potting mix.

[nancy]

Mosquito rings are composed of Bt (Bacillis thuringensis), which might be cheaper to buy at your local farm/garden supply store (I got a 2 oz. bottle, which is 3 lifetimes' supply). This stuff is also lethal for caterpillars (which you only want to wipe out if they menace orchids, otherwise no butterflies). A hort. professor told me to save up a couple of Bt killed worms in the freezer over the winter, and in the spring whirl 'em up in the blender with some soap and water, then dilute this to make a spray that is 10x more toxic than the original Bt - now, doesn't that sound nice? Good use of the freezer and the daiquiri equipment...
If you live in LA, you should be near a coulee - get some of the mosquito-biters (minnows) and put them in your rain barrel. They can live in any kind of water, will multiply like crazy, and be skillet-sized in a couple of years.
Gustatorially - Nancy

[dave b]

Originally Posted by Dorothy

Won't the fish excrement alter the water's chemistry?

Technically, the water could begin to run thru the Nitrogen Cycle, like a fish tank. There could be times when elevated levels of ammonia, nitrite, or even nitrates could exist. Id consider it organic fertilizer.

[bazza]

I find spent coffee grounds works a treat- started sprinkling them into centers of bromeliads to stop the mossies and since add them into rainwater barrels which I store water for the orchids. Bonus being slugs and snails don't seem to like it either when sprayed over leaves of orchids and does not affect the leaves on my Masdevallias

[Des]

A drop of vegetable oil on top of the water will sort out the mozzies

[nenella]

Hi,
just my 5 cents worth.
My mum who lives on the equator had this problem & she was told to just put a piece of copper wire into the water....I have no idea what this does....but It Works...

[Learner]

I wonder if the purity of rainwater would increase the osmotic pressure on the fish to the point of killing them off in a short time. Has anyone on the OB tried this?

[cirillonb]

The only "official" way to kill mosquito larvae is with the Bt containing material. Up here our health department has them available for fear of West Nile virus disease and other mosquito borne illnesses.
Incidentally, as mentioned above, Bt is the most effective way to get rid of the larvae of the gnat that eats orchid roots and is the active ingredient in Gnatol and others.
Oil should work as the critters need to breath at the surface but use only good cooking oil, ie, the edible kind. That way if some gets into your orchid water, no harm done.
Nick