Mosquitos are bad!

[Smiling JOe]

florida girl, if you cannot offer proof that West Nile caused any deaths in our area, it will be difficult at best that people will believe you. You went from citing multiple cases, now down to only one, and no doctor in our area has reported any cases as far as I can tell.

and known individuals who have died from West Nile contracted here,

 

[florida girl]

florida girl, if you cannot offer proof that West Nile caused any deaths in our area, it will be difficult at best that people will believe you. You went from citing multiple cases, now down to only one, and no doctor in our area has reported any cases as far as I can tell.

I am not a Walton County Health official, don't claim to be. West Nile has infected one idividual that I know of here in Walton County, that I know because the person infected told me. This person has passed away. It would seem to me that this disease, as in any other acquired by any individual, the severity would be determined by the health of the individual, would it not?

 

[Rita]

Floridagirl,

Try Microlift's liquid BTi (Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis). It's in a concentrated form. I have Mixed with water and sprayed on my yard. This way it has a better chance of getting around those oak leaves, etc. It will last several days if it is in the shade and temps aren't too high. (Can apply maybe once a week) A little goes a long way.

It is, as you likely know, a natural organism which is not toxic to mammals, birds, fish, butterflies, honey bees and most insects - in other words pretty specific to mosquito larvae. (liquid form of the mosquito dunks)

In the bottom of a pond spores can remain dormant for months or until eaten by larvae.

I've had luck using it sprayed on my yard and in flower beds. Give it a try.

Note: BTk (Bacillus thuringiensis variety kurstaki) will kill Butterfly caterpillars. Don't use that.

.

 

[florida girl]

Years ago, the goal of the Mosquito Control was to eradicate the Mosquitoes. Now, reality is that it can't be done. There are too many acres of undeveloped land. The point of the ditches was to drain off low lying areas prone to breeding Mosquitoes. The wetlands were isolated and managed by digging canals around them, and keeping the water flowing, and well stocked with minnows.

 

[kitlit]

I am not a Walton County Health official, don't claim to be. West Nile has infected one idividual that I know of here in Walton County, that I know because the person infected told me. This person has passed away. It would seem to me that this disease, as in any other acquired by any individual, the severity would be determined by the health of the individual, would it not?

Provided that we are discussing the same person and we must be, as his is the only case of West Nile that I know of here in South Walton, this is fairly irrelevant. He contracted the West Nile in 2003, was treated and recovered. He did not pass away until 2006, from causes unrelated to the West Nile. It is now 2009. How many cases of West Nile have we seen since?

 

[Rita]

I breed Gambusia Hoolbrooki (Mosquito fish ) as part of my job and will give them free to anyone who wants some. they will help control future mosquito's, I say help because if you have a bad problem that is all they will do and they only eat larvae not adults, they will definetly help they eat larvae like its candy and they are prolific breeders just a few dozen can turn into a thousand in just a few months and they can survive in most any water from stagnant to brackish.....................

.
You all should take flyguy up on this offer!! The nursery I worked at sells them for almost $3 each. Maybe "two fers" if they were small. Nice offer flyguy...

.

 

[florida girl]

Provided that we are discussing the same person and we must be, as his is the only case of West Nile that I know of here in South Walton, this is fairly irrelevant. He contracted the West Nile in 2003, was treated and recovered. He did not pass away until 2006, from causes unrelated to the West Nile. It is now 2009. How many cases of West Nile have we seen since?

We seem to have 2 different issues here. My issue is not whether or not the disease is deadly, but that diseases are carried by the Mosquito, and it needs to be controlled. I do not know whether the family of this person approves of the release of this information.

 

[kitlit]

We seem to have 2 different issues here. My issue is not whether or not the disease is deadly, but that diseases are carried by the Mosquito, and it needs to be controlled. I do not know whether the family of this person approves of the release of this information.

No, I believe the issue is whether the mosquito needs to be controlled by methods of which you approve. It is irrelevant whether the diseases are deadly, because the diseases you keep mentioning do not seem to be a prevelant issue in this area (as evidenced by the numerous posts with data supplied).

There have been many alternate methods mentioned in this thread for the removal and prevention of mosquitos. Personally, I am not as passionate about the alternate methods as some (although I certainly appreciate your views, SJ and Susan), but I believe that it is time for you to give it a rest. You have consistently provided faulty or skewed information, apparently intended to scare others into your way of thinking. Check your facts before you post them or, better yet, find a new bone to pick.

We have heard from you a number of times on the subject and, clearly, we are no closer to resolution than we were with the last 10 threads. And for the record, that person was family to me. Thanks!

 

[incredible1]

Maybe someone who knows can tell us if there is any value in bat houses. We already have plenty of bats here - in the summer time, you can see them flying around. So I wonder if we have the species that would appreciate a house?
I have a cat that used to catch two or three bats every summer. He would go up on the roof and snatch them out of the air.
He's older now and his bat catching days are over, thankfully.

Bat house for existing bats, good idea

Bat house for place with no bats bad idea LOL

Lower Sugarloaf Key, Florida - Perky's Bat Tower
The Bat Tower was built to house bats. A guy by the name of "Perky" decided he wanted to open a resort on , but the mosquitos were so bad he realized that nobody would want to stay there. Perky heard that bats eat lots of mosquitos so he built this tower to attract bats. Perky imported bats which promptly flew away, never to return
full story
Lower Sugarloaf Key, FL - Perky's Bat Tower

Whatever can be done to make less of them is alright by me
step up "control" to "eradication" LOL