Mosquitos are bad!

[Susan Horn]

There are fish that eat the larvae, and SWMCD uses those in certain applications. Maybe they could at least stock these temporary swamps with some of those till a long term solution is devised. maybe they could offer the fish for sale with a little where-these-fish-thrive class, and get citizens involved in micro-local natural control?

As to the used-to-not-flood-before-the-county-paved-the-road issue, I notice that the county doesn't often seem to follow their own regs around stormwater runoff when they pave or build stuff with our tax dollars. I will not now begin the litany of places where county projects have created terrible flooding/drainage problems, except to mention Dogwood and 30A.

So many things interrelated but governed and implemented by different empires. How to slay the hydra, or at least tame it to purposes better serving the common good.

 

[NotDeadYet]

I had not heard about cases of West Nile, Malaria, Hepatitis in South Walton. Is there a cover up by the TDC? __________________

Actually West Nile has been here for a while, same as just about everywhere else. You could ask SWMCD for their test results from the sentinel chickens they keep around town - don't know if they have any positive results this year, but they have had in previous years. I believe they also test for equine encephalitis.
I am not advocating for spraying, or any other measures - I am not going there today, thank you very much. But my point is that you can get the test results if you really want to know.
I think we have to wait on global warming a while longer before we get malaria here. And I don't believe hepatitis is spread by mosquitos, although it's quite likely if you tested everyone in SoWal you might get a few positive results.

 

[Susan Horn]

Bats and purple martins eat skeeters. Bet it wouldn't cost a lot for SWMCD to give away lots of martin houses, or locate lots of them around areas that tend to have stagnant water. They have sentinel chickens and skeeter-larvae-eating fish, why not raise skeeter-eating birds and bats too?

When I was growing up, and that was a long time ago, at least every other house in the neighborhood had a martin house in the back. I don't remember the mosquitoes ever being particularly bad. Seems a simple enough low-tech nontoxic way that we could all participate in. For the price of a pack of gourd seeds, you could have a few dozen martin gourds at summer's end, and then all you'd need was something high to hang them from, and the right sized drill bit.

For those who want a something less curvy, some enterprising craftsperson could be making, selling and installing martin houses that look more like people houses, or cars, or sailboats, whatever.

 

[Chip and Dale]

I thought this was true too, but the literature says not.

Mosquito Control

SUMMARY

A review of the pertinent scientific and popular ornithological literature leads to the following conclusions:
(1) Mosquitoes appear to be a negligible item in the diet of the Purple Martin.
(2) Behavior patterns of mosquitoes and martins are such that most mosquitoes are not flying in martin feeding areas when martins are active; contact between the two is minimal during day light hours.
(3) None of the published statements appearing in the popular or ethnological literature that attribute a mosquito-feeding habit to the Purple Martin are based on a factual study; the oft-quoted statement "a martin eats 2,000 mosquitoes per day" has no evident means of support.
(4) No evidence exists that any avian species can effectively control a species of insect pest upon which it feeds when that pest is at or near peak abundance.
(5) The Purple Martin is one of our most beautiful and friendly birds. It daily consumes a large number of insects. Its aesthetic qualities alone recommend it highly to man. There is no need to ascribe to the martin abilities greater than those it already possesses in order to encourage its protection and propagation.
​

 

[NotDeadYet]

Well, you know, I don't always agree with the "literature" because sometimes it just conflicts with experience. Whenever I had purple martins, I had fewer mosquitoes.
If you have a lot of trees though, it isn't that easy to get martins to move in. They prefer an open area for approach to the gourds, or house.

 

[Matt J]

My hair is getting smokey.

 

[ItzKatzTime]

Bats and purple martins eat skeeters. Bet it wouldn't cost a lot for SWMCD to give away lots of martin houses, or locate lots of them around areas that tend to have stagnant water. They have sentinel chickens and skeeter-larvae-eating fish, why not raise skeeter-eating birds and bats too?

When I was growing up, and that was a long time ago, at least every other house in the neighborhood had a martin house in the back. I don't remember the mosquitoes ever being particularly bad. Seems a simple enough low-tech nontoxic way that we could all participate in. For the price of a pack of gourd seeds, you could have a few dozen martin gourds at summer's end, and then all you'd need was something high to hang them from, and the right sized drill bit.

For those who want a something less curvy, some enterprising craftsperson could be making, selling and installing martin houses that look more like people houses, or cars, or sailboats, whatever.

Thanks Susan....I had forgotten about the Martins. I am getting some gourds up soon. We have a lot of skeetos and martin houses are perfect!

 

[ItzKatzTime]

When the county built JD Miller Rd, it was when we were having a drought. Apparently, they failed to consider the consequences of bringing in massive amounts of fill dirt, removing the existing ditches, and creating little berms. After all the rain we've had, the mistake has become a problem. Water stands in the adjoining properties and doesn't seem to ever drain. There has always been a lot of water flowing from West to East in that area. They have effectively created a levy! I've wondered just how far those Mosquito's would travel, and apparently quite a distance. This will become a serious health risk if not dealt with. The proximity to Town Center is a concern. The school, Boys and Girls Club, Library, and even the new construction going on at the college. The ditches need to be redone quickly!

This definitely looks like a bad state to be in for snakes too!!! When we lived in Point Washington years back the lot on the right side of us held water and took forever to drain off after it rained. I won't even say the kind of things I saw swimming through that lot! Hope all dogs/cats are on Heart Medication if they live near areas that won't drain!

 

[Susan Horn]

I thought this was true too, but the literature says not.

Mosquito Control


SUMMARY

A review of the pertinent scientific and popular ornithological literature leads to the following conclusions:

(1) Mosquitoes appear to be a negligible item in the diet of the Purple Martin.
(2) Behavior patterns of mosquitoes and martins are such that most mosquitoes are not flying in martin feeding areas when martins are active; contact between the two is minimal during day light hours.
(3) None of the published statements appearing in the popular or ethnological literature that attribute a mosquito-feeding habit to the Purple Martin are based on a factual study; the oft-quoted statement "a martin eats 2,000 mosquitoes per day" has no evident means of support.
(4) No evidence exists that any avian species can effectively control a species of insect pest upon which it feeds when that pest is at or near peak abundance.
(5) The Purple Martin is one of our most beautiful and friendly birds. It daily consumes a large number of insects. Its aesthetic qualities alone recommend it highly to man. There is no need to ascribe to the martin abilities greater than those it already possesses in order to encourage its protection and propagation.​

Thanks for that. I have great respect for science, but it's not the be-all end-all for me. More than a few times, my direct personal experience conflicts directly with what the studies and scientists pronounce based on their research, probably an indication of just how difficult -- if not impossible -- it is to design and conduct a proper conctrolled study that accounts for all variables.

It's dusk when the skeeters are worst in my experience (I am not often about in the dawn hours so I can't speak to that time of day), and dusk is the time of day I remember seeing the martins most active. This was in Montgomery--maybe it's different here, but I am asking for a martin house for Mother's Day just the same.

Wonder what the studies say about bats. They make bat houses too.

Even if martins and bats aren't the answer, I am certain there is some natural predator of skeeters whose nontoxic skills could be invited to assist our cause of human health,safety and comfort.

 

[Lady D]

Well, you know, I don't always agree with the "literature" because sometimes it just conflicts with experience. Whenever I had purple martins, I had fewer mosquitoes.
If you have a lot of trees though, it isn't that easy to get martins to move in. They prefer an open area for approach to the gourds, or house.

It would be useless to get purple martin houses for our yard seeing as our yard is loaded down with trees. We have no open areas except one spot in our side yard and the spot in our upper backyard. And still there are trees in our backyard.