Dragonfly nymphs are great and they are even better as adults munching up
mosquitoes.
I have them in my fishless frog bog and have yet to see any mosquito larvae in
there this spring.
But I still use the Mosquito Bits in the bog along with the fishless container
'ponds'.
I fear the Mosquito Police once West Nile starts hanging around the PNW...


k30a

Yes, Joe ... you are right. BT will not harm dragonflies, butterfiles
.... etc. just mosquitos.
Not scientific! So no hassles.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"joe" wrote in message
...
Just Me "Koi" wrote:

Ingrid and Joann, and others. What would you say about the concept of
using
a natural predator (goldfish & gambusa) against mosquito versus
chemicals
(dunks)?
I would have expected this group to support the use of GF and like
instead
of chemicals.

I though the dunks were just BT, not chemicals. Isn't that right?


Joe



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Steve Watson wrote:
wrote in message ...

it isnt chemical, it is biological. Bt israeli is a bacteria specifically for
mosquitoes, altho it knocks off midges as well. nothing else. Ingrid


What about dragon fly larvae? I wouldn't mind using Bti if necessary
(it's certainly a lot better than the IMO irresponsible idea of
fogging whole neighbourhoods with Malathion), but I would prefer not
to kill off the predatory insects as well (adult DF are a major
predator of mosquitoes). I didn't know that Bt strains could be
targeted by species.

Tangent: In the clueless-hysteria dept, some town council out west has
put a bounty on crows, as they are West Nile carriers. In fact, most
bird species are WN carriers; dead crows just seem to get used for
testing a lot (maybe the corpses get found more often because of their
size?). Wiping out crows would have negligible effect on WN
prevalence. Reinforces my prejudice that yer average municipal
council has less than one brain between them. Apologies to any
rec.ponders who may have served on council ;-).

-- Steve


Here is NJ we were asked to report any dead crows we found.
One problem, I don't remember who we're supposed to call -
mostly likely someone associated with County Health I guess.

--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

(Steve Watson) wrote:

Tangent: In the clueless-hysteria dept, some town council out west has
put a bounty on crows, as they are West Nile carriers. In fact, most
bird species are WN carriers; dead crows just seem to get used for
testing a lot (maybe the corpses get found more often because of their
size?). Wiping out crows would have negligible effect on WN
prevalence. Reinforces my prejudice that yer average municipal
council has less than one brain between them. Apologies to any
rec.ponders who may have served on council ;-).

I've not seen a crow in over a year. They are hard hit by WN. As are
Blue jays, but I've seen one this summer, so the jays are doing better.

That is what I've seen around my pond in the last few.

I though the dunks were just BT, not chemicals. Isn't that right?
Joe

Splitting hairs, everything is a chemical, consider H2O. ;o)

BT is pretty much species specific, what works on mosquito larvae does not
work on caterpillar larvae, etc. It is a bacteria that makes them sick and
die, and when they die they spread more of the bacteria to others. ~ jan

See my ponds and filter design:
http://users.owt.com/jjspond/

~Keep 'em Wet!~
Tri-Cities WA Zone 7a
To e-mail see website

Steve Watson wrote:

What about dragon fly larvae? I wouldn't mind using Bti if necessary
(it's certainly a lot better than the IMO irresponsible idea of
fogging whole neighbourhoods with Malathion), but I would prefer not
to kill off the predatory insects as well (adult DF are a major
predator of mosquitoes). I didn't know that Bt strains could be
targeted by species.

I didn't know that either and don't use it for the exact same reason you
give.

Joe



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mosquitoes and midges. nothing else. Ingrid

(Steve Watson) wrote:

wrote in message ...
it isnt chemical, it is biological. Bt israeli is a bacteria specifically for
mosquitoes, altho it knocks off midges as well. nothing else. Ingrid

What about dragon fly larvae? I

Bt israeli works on mosquito and midge larvae, nothing else.
BT, the general kind and the kind that is genetically inserted into some corn and
other plants WILL KILL MONARCH caterpillars. there is scientific evidence that corn
pollen that falls on milkweed (which is numerous in/around cornfields) does kill the
caterpillars. Ingrid

BT is pretty much species specific, what works on mosquito larvae does not
work on caterpillar larvae, etc. It is a bacteria that makes them sick and
die, and when they die they spread more of the bacteria to others.

West Nile is an issue you will be hearing more of this season... it's
certainly not the worst naturally occurring encephalitis we have, not by a
longshot, but it has its press following which will certainly raise people's
anxiety levels again this season!
to control it, by helping to limit the mosquito population, you can use:
1) Bt dunks, as discussed
2) fish, as discussed
3) keeping the water moving (larvae have trouble in moving water.. they can
survive, please don't misinterpret my statement, but it is harder)
4) add simple chlorine (chlorox) to your decorative fountain, etc one that
will not have fish, and one where you aren't able/willing to use the dunks
The biggest issue we have found in our state, by our epi investigations over
the last 2 seasons, is the standing water found in many people's yards,
which has turned out to be their non-cleaned out gutters (something most
don't think of unless they see trees growing in their gutters, or the water
spills over the gutter lips!).. that is a bigger issue, more so than the
tires, etc you have all read about.
Our commissioner (of health) addressed a letter to the concerned public,
informing them of the measures they could take to limit mosquito
proliferation, with gutter cleaning being near the top of the list.
Have you all checked your gutters lately?? (esp. with the wet season most
have had)
Happy ponding,
Greg


wrote in message
...
mosquitoes and midges. nothing else. Ingrid

(Steve Watson) wrote:

wrote in message
...
it isnt chemical, it is biological. Bt israeli is a bacteria
specifically for
mosquitoes, altho it knocks off midges as well. nothing else. Ingrid

What about dragon fly larvae? I

Holy Cow!!! I just checked the gutter that's on the north side
of the house. I have a regular vegetable garden up there!
Guess that will be on my 'to do' list tomorrow. South side
stays cleaned out by el birdos.
and Welcome Back, Greg.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Gregory Young" wrote in message
. ..
West Nile is an issue you will be hearing more of this season... it's
certainly not the worst naturally occurring encephalitis we have, not by a
longshot, but it has its press following which will certainly raise
people's
anxiety levels again this season!
to control it, by helping to limit the mosquito population, you can use:
1) Bt dunks, as discussed
2) fish, as discussed
3) keeping the water moving (larvae have trouble in moving water.. they
can
survive, please don't misinterpret my statement, but it is harder)
4) add simple chlorine (chlorox) to your decorative fountain, etc one that
will not have fish, and one where you aren't able/willing to use the dunks
The biggest issue we have found in our state, by our epi investigations
over
the last 2 seasons, is the standing water found in many people's yards,
which has turned out to be their non-cleaned out gutters (something most
don't think of unless they see trees growing in their gutters, or the
water
spills over the gutter lips!).. that is a bigger issue, more so than the
tires, etc you have all read about.
Our commissioner (of health) addressed a letter to the concerned public,
informing them of the measures they could take to limit mosquito
proliferation, with gutter cleaning being near the top of the list.
Have you all checked your gutters lately?? (esp. with the wet season most
have had)
Happy ponding,
Greg


wrote in message
...
mosquitoes and midges. nothing else. Ingrid

(Steve Watson) wrote:

wrote in message
...
it isnt chemical, it is biological. Bt israeli is a bacteria
specifically for
mosquitoes, altho it knocks off midges as well. nothing else.
Ingrid

What about dragon fly larvae? I

Nedra wrote:
Holy Cow!!! I just checked the gutter that's on the north side
of the house. I have a regular vegetable garden up there!
Guess that will be on my 'to do' list tomorrow. South side
stays cleaned out by el birdos.
and Welcome Back, Greg.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118


Please be careful.

--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

i am in texas, but they sell mosquito dunks at feed and farm stores. i was
up in midland/odessa two weeks ago and the plant nurseries don't have them.
i went to a true value in alpine on the way home and they did have them. so
try a farm/feed store. ranchers/farmers put them in stock tanks.
mad
--
Blessed is he who can laugh at himself for he shall never
cease to be amused.

From: "Ian"
Newsgroups: rec.ponds
Date: Mon, 26 May 2003 18:55:05 GMT
Subject: question on west nile

Anyone in the Greater Toronto Area know who sells Mosquito dunks? So far my
searches have been in vain...



"Snooze" wrote in message
news
Suggest to your management that they purchase mosquito dunks, they are
really effective at mosquito control. You put 1 dunk in a pond, and it
lasts
a month or so. Point out to your management chain that both can be sold at
the same time to the same customer.

The GF will eat the mosquitoes that land on the water, and the mosquito
dunks will kill off any larva. As others already suggested, sell no more
then 1 gf per 20 gal of water. While they are there, you can also sell to
them aquatic plants such as water hyacinth, watercress, water lilies, etc.

Management loves the idea of upgrade or complementary selling of products.
Even the Harvard Business School types, say "blink blink".

Sameer



---Clip---





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Thanks for your concern, Bonnie! I still haven't
gotten up there .... I need to call my son - get him
over here to do the roof work ;-)

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Bonnie Espenshade" wrote in message
...
Nedra wrote:
Holy Cow!!! I just checked the gutter that's on the north side
of the house. I have a regular vegetable garden up there!
Guess that will be on my 'to do' list tomorrow. South side
stays cleaned out by el birdos.
and Welcome Back, Greg.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118


Please be careful.

--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

Nedra wrote:
Thanks for your concern, Bonnie! I still haven't
gotten up there .... I need to call my son - get him
over here to do the roof work ;-)

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118


That sounds much better. I had a picture of you
climbing a ladder - it scared me!
--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/

Bonnie ... I hate to shatter any of your ideas but I love getting
up on the ladder to do work like changing the spot lights!
With the vertigo I have I should take better care than I do ;-)
Thanks for your concern though sweetie.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Bonnie Espenshade" wrote in message
...
Nedra wrote:
Thanks for your concern, Bonnie! I still haven't
gotten up there .... I need to call my son - get him
over here to do the roof work ;-)

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118


That sounds much better. I had a picture of you
climbing a ladder - it scared me!
--
Bonnie
NJ
http://home.earthlink.net/~maebe43/