Skeeters (mosquitoes)

[another_hot-day]

I can see the lake from my house. If you put out one of those big citronella candles and stay by it, you will be fine. When we hang out on my deck in the evening we light ours, place it in a centralized location, and don't get bit. Without it, we would be food.

[jread]

This year was way worse than past years due to all the rain and much higher humidity than usual (typically we are very dry in the summer). That said, what people call "bad" as far as mosquitoes in Austin is hilarious to me. I grew up on the Gulf coast where they literally swarmed you and were HUGE. The mosquitoes in Austin are very small, and until I moved to North-Central Austin I didn't even believe that they lived here. Still, when I see them it's maybe 3-4 at a time. I have never seen a "swarm" here.

[riaelise]

Originally Posted by jread

This year was way worse than past years due to all the rain and much higher humidity than usual (typically we are very dry in the summer). That said, what people call "bad" as far as mosquitoes in Austin is hilarious to me. I grew up on the Gulf coast where they literally swarmed you and were HUGE. The mosquitoes in Austin are very small, and until I moved to North-Central Austin I didn't even believe that they lived here. Still, when I see them it's maybe 3-4 at a time. I have never seen a "swarm" here.

thirteen bites in a short span I consider "bad". And technically one bite is one too many when it comes to Zika and WNV. The size of the mosquito really means nothing...the smallest mosquitos (a. egypti) is one of the most aggressive day and night biters and there's tons of them here.

if people have issues with being bitten, then anywhere where the weather is temperate wouldn't be a good bet.

[cBach]

Originally Posted by riaelise

thirteen bites in a short span I consider "bad". And technically one bite is one too many when it comes to Zika and WNV. The size of the mosquito really means nothing...the smallest mosquitos (a. egypti) is one of the most aggressive day and night biters and there's tons of them here.

if people have issues with being bitten, then anywhere where the weather is temperate wouldn't be a good bet.

Actually, the Desert Southwest is best if you hate mosquitoes. Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, in dry heat there is none.

[RunninJT]

There is a reason we have one of the largest thriving urban bat populations in the world. God bless the local flying rodents for keeping the bugs from getting out of hand. Around in North East Austin it can be noticeable after a few days of steady rain but it is rarely very bad. Completely manageable if you empty their bedding source out regularly around your property and keep a can of spray on repellent handy for when you work outside when they start getting irritating.

Honestly you will hate the ants and the heat far more than you will the mosquitoes. Although the heat wont be too bad until next year.

[S&AMOM]

The mosquitos are so bad and smaller is worse! They bite before you can see the little devils. We did have a lot in the northeast where we moved from but I was good at killing those because I could see them. I don't remember any in Colorado really where I grew up.

It's miserable here for bugs and for me the weather...mosquitos are just one factor. Fire ants, heat, traffic and the humidity these last few days is awful. I miss Fall.

[JH6]

Spray the perimeter of your yard with Bifen I/T once a month and you will not have bugs period. Fire Ants, Mosquitoes, nothing. You will need to spot treat any fire ant mounds that pop up, but that is it, it kills everything.

You can buy a concentrate online for 25 dollars, and it goes in a pump sprayer one ounce per gallon.

A gallon jug lasts me several years.

I spray the foundation of my house at the same time, we have never had a bug inside the house either.