Mosquitoes This Year (Austin, Howe: houses, neighborhood, school)

[MattV]

Well, mosquitoes are way worse this year than last year. Everyone else experiencing the same with all this rain?

[Idlewile]

I saw some out on the patio earlier and did a double-take... couldn't believe there were as many as there were in APRIL.

[cBach]

Nope, no mosquito bites so far this season. My advice: dump out all containers, search the yard for any stagnant water and dump it out or put chlorine bleach in it. If you have any fountains, chlorinate them heavily with a shock treatment. Put a drop of chlorine bleach in your bird bath too. I only had mosquitoes in 2007 at my house, none since then.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by cBach

Nope, no mosquito bites so far this season. My advice: dump out all containers, search the yard for any stagnant water and dump it out or put chlorine bleach in it. If you have any fountains, chlorinate them heavily with a shock treatment. Put a drop of chlorine bleach in your bird bath too. I only had mosquitoes in 2007 at my house, none since then.

We've been through this. (Just because they aren't at cBach's extra special abode doesn't mean they aren't an issue elsewhere!)

Austin winters for a younger snow bird?

How bad is the mosquito problem in texas?

Depends on where you live in Austin.

Again, we have no standing water, perfectly manicured yard and a very large zapper. It's not just us, it's the entire area and people often post about it on larger neighborhood forums. Clearly they are a problem in certain areas and not in others.

[centralaustinite]

No, I haven't seen a single one! But as long as we keep clear of standing water in the yard -- and I haven't even done that yet -- we are usually good because we live under the regular flight path of the Congress Bridge bats!! they work hard every night!

[tstwahine]

No standing water in our backyard and I found three bites from standing in the backyard last week throwing the ball around with the pooch.

Just need to put a fan outside and stand in it I'd rather deal with mosquitos than buffalo gnats - they are super swarmy, fast and their bite is incredibly painful and the welts are huge! However, it did cause me to go faster during my afternoon runs!

[cBach]

Originally Posted by Idlewile

We've been through this. (Just because they aren't at cBach's extra special abode doesn't mean they aren't an issue elsewhere!)

Austin winters for a younger snow bird?

How bad is the mosquito problem in texas?

Depends on where you live in Austin.

Again, we have no standing water, perfectly manicured yard and a very large zapper. It's not just us, it's the entire area and people often post about it on larger neighborhood forums. Clearly they are a problem in certain areas and not in others.

The reason they aren't at my "extra special abode" is because, having grown up in Louisiana, I know how to get rid of all sources of their reproduction. I guarantee there is a source somewhere, how about gutters, areas in the street where it isn't level, spades left in the yard, kid dump trucks left in the yard (always park them with the slope pointing downwards).

A neighbor commented on how mosquito free my yard was and I pointed out the standing water thing and he said "we already did that". I said "let me inspect your yard." When I did, I found about 10 sources of standing water for mosquito reproduction.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by cBach

The reason they aren't at my "extra special abode" is because, having grown up in Louisiana, I know how to get rid of all sources of their reproduction. I guarantee there is a source somewhere, how about gutters, areas in the street where it isn't level, spades left in the yard, kid dump trucks left in the yard (always park them with the slope pointing downwards).

A neighbor commented on how mosquito free my yard was and I pointed out the standing water thing and he said "we already did that". I said "let me inspect your yard." When I did, I found about 10 sources of standing water for mosquito reproduction.

As I said before everyone in our entire school zone complains of a mosquito issues. Sorry, there's not a source of standing water in each yard of 600 houses. I don't know why it's so hard to fathom that it's an issue in some areas and less in others... especially when there have been others on this board who claim the same. Now our area has more live oak than the majority of Austin, they are everywhere. Mosquitos like shade. Perhaps we can cut them all down.

[Austin97]

We havent had mosquito problems yet this year and we go outside every single day until about 7:30. Im sure it will be bad. Im usually the first to get bitten..

eliminating standing water definitely works.

Idlewile - I doubt you actually talked to all 600 people and I doubt that any of the 600 people have really looked for sources of standing water. In addition if any of your neighbors have them then obviously they will come over to your yard.

Also if you live near a green belt there is almost certainly standing water on rock outcroppings, puddles, etc

The puddles can even just be moist areas in a low area of your yard hidden by grass.

[Idlewile]

Originally Posted by Austin97

Idlewile - I doubt you actually talked to all 600 people and I doubt that any of the 600 people have really looked for sources of standing water. In addition if any of your neighbors have them then obviously they will come over to your yard.

No greenbelt. Large yard with 40+ oaks, as mentioned. I think the shade and oak cover is more to blame than anything.

Where did I say I talked with 600 neighbors? I said it is a hot topic of conversation on our giant list serve. Most residents are not idiots despite what you two infer and are of aware of standing water concerns, especially after hiring mosquito mitigation companies after clearing their yards to combat the issue but you and cbach are free to educate them. But I am glad to hear Laurel Mountain et al. is currently mosquito free.