On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:42:25 +0000 (UTC), John Savage wrote:

Anyone know of an Australian source for the bacteria (BTI) or the
hormone control for mosquito wriggles? I searched online but can't
find any local web suppliers, i.e., in Aust, yet there are plenty of
outlets in the US.

A pool company has left a friend with a half-finished pool, and the
pool and the cratered yard are breeding plenty of mozzies here in
Sydney despite it officially being Winter. The mild temperature and
unrelenting showery weather are providing good breeding conditions.

The owner tried a couple of bottles of kero but it evaporated too
quickly to be a long-term solution (while awaiting a legal remedy for
the pool). Initially I thought a pool cover might provide the answer,
but I've been reading where pooled rainwater in the plastic cover
itself can provide a good breeding ground.

ALSO:

We might have some new readers since I last asked this question, so
I'll try it again: Some years ago I heard on a radio program of a new
(new to me!) method for stopping mozzies from breeding in garden
water features, lily ponds, etc., and I thought to myself "I should
write that down or I'll probably forget it." Well, I didn't write it
down, and sure enough I forgot the details!

This method didn't involve tiny fish or anything like that, either.
I just can't remember what it did involve; just that it was something
I would not have otherwise thought of.

Anyone?

Use a natural method - chuck in a few fish.

wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:42:25 +0000 (UTC), John Savage
wrote:

Anyone know of an Australian source for the bacteria (BTI) or the
hormone control for mosquito wriggles? I searched online but can't
find any local web suppliers, i.e., in Aust, yet there are plenty of
outlets in the US.

A pool company has left a friend with a half-finished pool, and the
pool and the cratered yard are breeding plenty of mozzies here in
Sydney despite it officially being Winter. The mild temperature and
unrelenting showery weather are providing good breeding conditions.

The owner tried a couple of bottles of kero but it evaporated too
quickly to be a long-term solution (while awaiting a legal remedy for
the pool). Initially I thought a pool cover might provide the answer,
but I've been reading where pooled rainwater in the plastic cover
itself can provide a good breeding ground.


How about diesel oil?

ALSO:

We might have some new readers since I last asked this question, so
I'll try it again: Some years ago I heard on a radio program of a new
(new to me!) method for stopping mozzies from breeding in garden
water features, lily ponds, etc., and I thought to myself "I should
write that down or I'll probably forget it." Well, I didn't write it
down, and sure enough I forgot the details!

This method didn't involve tiny fish or anything like that, either.
I just can't remember what it did involve; just that it was something
I would not have otherwise thought of.

Anyone?

Use a natural method - chuck in a few fish.

Not a very promising idea in a building site. Cement or mortar will make
the water too alkaline for fish and there has to be some sort of ecology to
support them.

David

On Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:52:37 +1000, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:

wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:42:25 +0000 (UTC), John Savage
wrote:

Anyone know of an Australian source for the bacteria (BTI) or the
hormone control for mosquito wriggles? I searched online but can't
find any local web suppliers, i.e., in Aust, yet there are plenty of
outlets in the US.

A pool company has left a friend with a half-finished pool, and the
pool and the cratered yard are breeding plenty of mozzies here in
Sydney despite it officially being Winter. The mild temperature and
unrelenting showery weather are providing good breeding conditions.

The owner tried a couple of bottles of kero but it evaporated too
quickly to be a long-term solution (while awaiting a legal remedy for
the pool). Initially I thought a pool cover might provide the answer,
but I've been reading where pooled rainwater in the plastic cover
itself can provide a good breeding ground.


How about diesel oil?

ALSO:

We might have some new readers since I last asked this question, so
I'll try it again: Some years ago I heard on a radio program of a new
(new to me!) method for stopping mozzies from breeding in garden
water features, lily ponds, etc., and I thought to myself "I should
write that down or I'll probably forget it." Well, I didn't write it
down, and sure enough I forgot the details!

This method didn't involve tiny fish or anything like that, either.
I just can't remember what it did involve; just that it was something
I would not have otherwise thought of.

Anyone?

Use a natural method - chuck in a few fish.

Not a very promising idea in a building site. Cement or mortar will make
the water too alkaline for fish and there has to be some sort of ecology to
support them.


Yeah ! Mozzie larvae....
David

"David Hare-Scott" writes:
How about diesel oil?

That's a thought, but I have reservations. The strong smell of fuel
would probably have the neighbours calling the fire brigade. The
pool's surface area is so large there is a lot of evaporation. When
I put kero on a 0.5 sq m pit drain outside our back door there is a
strong smell of kero inside for 48 hrs as the lighter fractions
evaporate.

Use a natural method - chuck in a few fish.

Not a very promising idea in a building site. Cement or mortar will make
the water too alkaline for fish and there has to be some sort of ecology
to support them.

I ruled out fish in my original post. Discounting the kookaburras,
I'd have PETA on my back each time the sun comes out leaving half
the fish thrashing about in mud for a day or two until the next bout
of rain. There is the pool itself, and the water-filled craters in the
surrounding yard, both breeding 'skeeters.
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

G'day all, I'm with the Rainman, fish and frogs. Mozzies don't breed in
salt water, but it would also upset your garden.

Cheers
China
Wingham
NSW

wrote:
On Fri, 19 Jun 2009 08:42:25 +0000 (UTC), John Savage wrote:

China writes:
G'day all, I'm with the Rainman, fish and frogs.

Not frogs.
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574...95-421,00.html
--
John Savage (my news address is not valid for email)

You might try soapy water. It destroys the surface tension on the water which the wrigglers hang on to to breathe. Could be a cheap answer to the problem. If you want to see what I mean, put a drop of petrol or something similar in a glass of water so that it covers the top. Then get a bit of soap and just touch it to the water and watch what happens. It should drive all the oil to the edge of the glass. It's got to be worth a try.
Bigal