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Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

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Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#111
My neighbors and I have been using the dunks and mosquitos have been significantly reduced this year in Northern Virginia.

I'd prefer not to use the dunks as I'm uncertain they only impact mosquitos, but my insect population seems healthy. I saw a stag beetle two weeks ago! There are certainly fewer spiders though.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#112

Does this even cull the population down? If you're creating a perfect nesting area and then killing off the babies, you haven't really culled any of the active/dangerous mosquitos. Am I missing something?

If everyone did it then you might see a big reduction but it’s really only for the infestation near you not around you.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#113

I recently moved ~70 miles from a relatively open plain to a hilly forest biome and the reduction in mosquito density is shocking to me. I suspect predation is the biggest factor given the climate is virtually identical. I make a very strong point to not kill arachnids and similar creepers. I'm not a fan of gigantic spooky looking spiders and their homes, but I recognize they are much more efficient at killing my ene…

We moved into a new home recently that backs up to some woods and there is a stunning number of huge dragonflies in our backyard (and very few mosquitos).

It just seems like luck though, I wish there was a way to better support the dragonflies as they seem so helpful.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#114
post #50

With modern electronics, wouldn't it be possible to build a device that detects bugs using some type scanner (radar or whatever) and zaps them with a microwave laser? That seems like it could be 100x more efficient than this solution.

"Laser-wielding device is like an anti-aircraft system for mosquitoes" https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44478171

According to the Indiegogo campaign they are expecting to retail these for US$900.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/worlds-first-portable-mos...

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#115

Does this even cull the population down? If you're creating a perfect nesting area and then killing off the babies, you haven't really culled any of the active/dangerous mosquitos. Am I missing something?

yes, the lifecycle of the mosquito is quick so the adults die off with age and the next generation dies in the bucket before they become adults. It doesn't help if you are at a camp site for two nights, but it does reduce population at your house.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#116

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Basic stuff You like paying extra for stuff that is normally included in your property taxes? I'm dumbfounded.

Property taxes basically never pay for privately owned things, be that landscaping in common spaces, maintenance of private neighborhood roads, etc.

The alternative is public space and public roads.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#117
post #22

You can also try a simple fan blowing over the sitting areas, mosquitos (and other bugs) have difficulty flying in the breeze. I sometimes bring a small fan camping since the breeze is nice and I hate applying deet.

I love DEET. It is absolutely the perfect way to avoid mosquitos and ticks. At home though, I use Thermacell. It's the only thing I have ever used that makes a measurable difference. Of course, you need to have one ever four or five feet unless the air is perfectly still but that's a small price.

Deet works on most things except deer flies. One bite is usually enough to itch for hours. They feed during the daytime.

"Their mouthparts include two pairs of cutting "blades" that lacerate skin and cause flow of blood out of the wound, which females lap up with a sponge-like mouthpart."

https://extension.entm.purdue.edu/publichealth/insects/taban...

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have one with a fan and a coated UV light that does similar, it just sucks them in till they dehydrate/starve https://www.costco.com/dynatrap-1-acre-insect-and-mosquito-t... catches moths as well, so it's not as eco friendly.

Does it actually attract mosquitoes? I didn't think they'd be attracted to UV light.

you usually use a chemical attractant insert along with the device. I have one of these. Success seems to be hit or miss. I've run one for a year and it seems to only accidentally catch mosquitos, and that's not a unique outcome. But then others seem to have massive success.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#119
post #8

> The dunks contain an unhealthy—for the mosquito larvae—dose of the bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, or BT. Don’t worry about your dog, Moonpie, or your cat, French Fry. They can drink straight from the bucket and be perfectly fine. Hey, it’s probably better than when they drink from your toilet, right? Here I was under the impression that the water in the toilet is the same water as go into the taps, potable wate…

In the US we shit in our toilets.

Re: Try the Mosquito Bucket of Death

#120

With modern electronics, wouldn't it be possible to build a device that detects bugs using some type scanner (radar or whatever) and zaps them with a microwave laser? That seems like it could be 100x more efficient than this solution.

People have made prototypes but I think there may be hazzard if it gets your retina rather than a bug.

There was an interesting idea the other day for a mini drone that bashes them with its prop - top comment here https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44702833

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