Newsletter
Mosquito Control that Works
After the toxic aerial spraying, we are receiving reports that mosquitoes are more prevalent in the targeted areas. Toxic airplane spraying doesn’t work; mosquitoes can be controlled and it doesn't have to be dangerous. We recommend a preventative program that works.
The effective and non-toxic site management program for mosquito control is:
1. Drain standing water where possible and clean up all trash. Even small containers such as pot saucers, old tires, soda bottles and cans hold enough water for mosquito breeding. So can bottle caps and plastic bags.
2. Treat water that cannot be emptied such as drain lines, sewers and stagnant ponds with (Bti - Bacillus thuringiensis'Israelensis') products such as Mosquito Dunks or Mosquito Bits. Surface standing water can be treated the same way or with gambusia mosquito fish. Treating bird baths and other containers of water at home might work to attract and kill mosquitoes - plus Bti is completely harmless to pets, birds and other wildlife.
3. If necessary, you can spray to kill adult mosquitoes with plant oil pesticides such as Earth Harvest, Avenger, and EcoSMART. Pest control operators can use EcoEXEMPT Essentria. Garlic sprays work well to repel the insects for up to 20 days. Even better, broadcast dry minced garlic to the site at 1lb. per 1000 square feet. Bonide Mosquito Beater Granules is another good commercial dry product.
4. Use natural organic landscape management to encourage birds, bats, fish, dragonflies and other beneficial insects.
5. Instead of DEET, use skin repellents that contain natural repellent herbs such as aloe vera, eucalyptus, tea tree oil, lavender, vanilla, citronella and lemon eucalyptus. Taking garlic pills and/or vitamin B complex daily also seems to help greatly.
Products for pest control, lawn and garden care are available in independent garden retailers that stock natural organic products and online at the Natural Organic Warehouse (NOW).
If you have any questions on this newsletter or any other topic, tune in Sunday 8am -11am (CST) to the Dirt Doctor Radio Show. The phone number for the show is 1-866-444-3478. Listen on the internet or find a station in your area.
Organic Club of America Members can log in on Sunday mornings to see the Dirt Doctor's Live Broadcast.
Please share this newsletter with everyone in your address book and all of your friends on Facebook and Twitter to help me spread the word on organics.
Naturally yours,
Howard Garrett
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