Mosquitoes (Houston, Austin: houses, neighborhood, live in)

[dclboro]

I read an article that said that Texas has more species of mosquitoes than any other state. Are the mosquitoes bad around Austin? I assume that they are probably worse in the suburbs where there is less development. Does it prevent people from doing things outdoors? Here in my area of Virginia, they are so bad right now that I can't even do yard work because I get swarmed (no matter what time of day). I even use preventative spray, but there are just too many.

[mimimomx3]

With all the rain we've had lately, the mosquitos are out in full force. Horrible.

[Adios Baltimore]

I just moved here from MD and the mosqitoes are NOTHING like there. My friend who moved here from MD 7 years ago said this is the worst they've been since he moved, I guess from all the rain.
If you are used to VA mosquitoes, you'll be fine.

[Trainwreck20]

Austin is not very bad as far as mosquitos go, there just isn't enough stagnant water and it is too hot during the day. Houston and the coast are much worse. Most years in Austin, I get through the summer with one or two bites.

[Phisch]

I've been bitten quite a bit more than just once or twice. I get that in a day. I do use spray when I think about it and it does help so it can't be that bad. I will, however, consider a bat box or two when we move into our house.

[love roses]

Having lived near the Gulf Coast, I will say the mosquitos are much worse there.

[atxcio]

This is an especially bad year in Austin for mosquitoes, due to the exceptionally cool and wet July (I think). Typically, they aren't so bad. Nothing like in Houston or areas of Florida, where community spraying is required.

Still, this year -- watch out! Bring the spray if you are planning anything outdoors.

Besides bat houses, which I actually had never heard about before, many people around here use nematodes as a natural way to control mosquito populations (also fleas and fireants). My wife has been putting them out recently, and they do seem to help.

[Mike78613]

Bug-off is a great investment.

[Trainwreck20]

Also, depending on where you live, you can reduce mosquitos by draining any standing water. I guess I don't see much because I don't live very near a creek, but tires, tin cans, and plastic cups that collect in fields are apparently favorite breeding grounds of some type of mosquito. If you back up to or are very near a vacant area of land, it may be worth your while to inspect it for abandon water 'containers'.

[gigi927]

There was a post about a year ago on this subject and theHarvester rightly pointed out that if you live in an area with a lot of limestone beds you can get a ton of mosquitos. We live backed to the Balcones Preserve and our lot is filled with limestone and we literally get eaten alive even after spraying our yard and ourselves. So it's really dependent upon where you are. If I had known how bad the mosquitos would be here in this spot I would have probably chosen a more interior lot location in the neighborhood! (I'd also probably not have seen the coral and copperhead snakes I've seen in my front and back yards!!!)