Don't sweat the skeeters

It seems to be an inevitable summer fact of life: If you head out to your backyard in the evening, hoards of mosquitoes will be waiting to give you some not-so-friendly hellos.

Their bites cause itches that will drive you crazy and could result in more serious problems such as disease.

So, is it realistically possible to live without the flying menaces?

"Will we ever be rid of them? Probably not," said Paul Davison, assistant professor of biology at the University of North Alabama. "That is serious when you think of those that carry disease.

"I think twice now, whenever I get bitten, about whether I'll develop a fever or something."

He said, however, that doesn't mean you can't enjoy a mosquito-free evening in your yard. Area officials offer a variety of tips.

"The main thing is making sure you don't have a desirable place for them," said Charles Andrews, an agent with the Lauderdale County Extension System.

Mosquitoes are constantly looking for good places to breed, and too often we provide those spots in our yards without realizing it.

"In this area, mosquito larvae are aquatic," said Clyde Bohannon, owner of the Florence pest-control business Bohannon Services. "Ponds, pools, various containers of water and even tree holes containing water are problems in this area."

Bohannon recommends keeping gutters clean. He said water can accumulate where leaves build up in gutters.

Other locations people may not realize are problems include dishes under pots that hold plants, he said.

Bohannon said mosquito larvae stay on the surface of water and most feed on organic debris and microscopic algae.

Even keeping grass cut and making sure leaves are raked can help. "They usually rest under vegetation," Bohannon said.

Davison said mosquitoes cue in on carbon dioxide when looking for a host, and, of course, we exhale carbon dioxide, so they zero in on us when we're outside.

He said there's a new type of mosquito spreading into North America. It's called the Asian tiger mosquito, and apparently it doesn't care what time of day it is.

"It's a pesky one," Davison said. "It comes out in the daytime to get you."

The Asian tiger, which has a striped leg, is among at least 50 known mosquito species in Alabama, Andrews said.

He said females can lay up to 100 to 200 eggs in one batch and deposit a batch every seven to 10 days.

Andrews said only the adult female mosquitoes are bloodsuckers, and not all species fall under the bloodsucker category.

In fact, according to information he provided from the extension system, a genus called the toxorhynchite is a cannibal, with its larvae eating the larvae of other mosquito species.

Andrews recommends using insecticides containing the chemicals malathion, temephos or pyrethrins on lawns, shrubs, low-hanging branches and mulch in the yard.

"Also, there should be no standing water," he said. "Any container, even a small one, is a breeding ground.

"Animals' water should be freshened up, I would say, daily. Ornamental fishponds and birdbaths should have something called mosquito dunks. It's safe for the birds. The main thing is to keep that water fresh."

Mosquito dunks are small doughnut-shaped products you place in the water to kill larvae.

In addition, proper chemicals should be kept in swimming pools to prevent larvae from surviving there, he said.

He also recommends using products containing DEET on yourself.

Short for diethyl toluamide, DEET sort of "confuses" mosquitoes, so it can't find a spot to feed on you, Andrews said.

He said some products have huge concentrations of DEET, but you really only need substances with about 10 to 15 percent of the product. Children should have products with less than 8 percent. Andrews said high concentrations could irritate skin.

Material from the extension office states citronella candles are popular but less effective than other methods. In addition, bug zappers aren't effective.

Extension office officials say less than 5 percent of the insects killed in zappers are female mosquitoes. What's more, some zappers attract insects to an area, and tend to kill insects that are

beneficial.

Other tips provided by the extension office:

• yard foggers temporarily eliminate mosquitoes, so they are good to use shortly before an activity in your yard.
• chimneys and other vent flues should be screened during the mosquito season, but removed for winter use.
• broken screens, windows, doors and porches should be repaired.
• cracks and crevices should be caulked.
• when you water plants and lawns, do so in a manner that does not leave water standing for several days.
• a type of fish called gambusia can be stocked in ornamental ponds. They feed on mosquito larvae. Dragonflies also feed on mosquitoes.
• check cesspools, septic tanks, air-conditioning units, outdoor faucets and pipes for standing water.
• ointments containing hydrocortisone, benzyl benzoate or calamine are good for relieving itching from mosquito bites.

Bernie Delinski can be reached at 740-5739 or bernie.delinski@TimesDaily.com.