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A mosquito that cannot hatch is a mosquito that cannot bite!
If you have mosquitoes in your back yard, chances are they are
breeding very close to your home! The two most common mosquitoes in
Tennessee that carry West Nile virus (Culex pipien and Culex
quinquefasciatus) have a flight range of 1/4 to 1/2 mile according to
John D. Hopkins of the University of Arkansas. They are usually out at
dusk and dawn. The Asian Tiger mosquito bites during the day and usually
does not fly over 100 feet from breeding sites.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reduce or eliminate all standing water in
your yard especially in childrens toys, clogged gutters, tires,
flowerpots, trash cans, and wheelbarrows. Make sure gutter downspout
extenders are lower at the end so they do not hold water. Mosquito
larvae look like little wiggling worms. They are also sometimes called
wigglers. Killing mosquitoes in the larval and pupae stages of their
development is much easier than killing adults. 
Change the water in kiddie pools, dog bowls and bird baths every
other day. You can purchase a product called "The Water Wiggler" (cost
$24.95) for your bird bath at The Wood Trush Shop at 6029 Hwy 100 in
Belle Meade. It jiggles the water for 2 months on 2 D batteries
preventing mosquitoes from laying their eggs.
If you can't get rid of standing water, buy a larvicide called
Mosquito Dunks (see photo to the left) or Mosquito Bits at garden
centers or home improvement stores (approximate cost is $9.00 for six
dunks). Larvicide kills mosquito and fly larvae for 30 days or more and
does not harm other living things. Check out BioControl Network, Brentwood, TN at
(615) 370-4301 for other non-toxic alternatives.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with mosquito-eating fish
like Gambusia fish.
Limit time outdoors when mosquitoes are present. Mosquitoes that
could carry West Nile virus are out from dusk to dawn. Purchase a
yellow bug light for lights that are near your entry way doors.
If you must be outdoors, WEAR A MOSQUITO REPELLENT. We do NOT
recommend using DEET. To find out why read DEET Alert! The CDC has
recently approved two products that we feel are safer than DEET
picardin (try Cutter Advanced Sport with 15% Picardin) and oil of lemon eucalyptus (try Repel Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Repellant by Cutter). We also recommend BioUD (in an orange plastic spray bottle) which
can be found in the camping department at Wal-Mart or online at http://www.bio-block.us/. These are non-toxic
repellents that have done well in tests. If you chose to use DEET, follow the directions carefully and wash it off your skin and clothing when you
come in.
Wear shoes, socks, long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors during
dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Clothing should be
light colored and made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes
away from the skin. Pant legs should be tucked into shoes or socks, and
collars should be buttoned. Light colored clothes are less attractive to
mosquitoes.
Place a fan on your deck or porch. Mosquitoes don't like the
breeze! Make sure all your windows and doors have screens and
are in good repair.
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