After visiting NC, here are some thoughts... (Charlotte, Raleigh: live, shoppers)

[nascarnancy]

Originally Posted by mm34b

Get some ducks and any problem with June Bugs is solved.

Note to self: need ducks, bats, large bug swater, bug zapper, screened porch and don't brush up againts large grass, Queens Ann's lace or step in pine straw (to avoid chiggers).

Now do I need a pond for these ducks? If so, will I be defeating the purpose if I have a pond how will that up my mosquito population? Or was that where the bats come in, darn gotta go back and re-read posts! LOL

[Mountain Man]

Ya need chickens instead of ducks (no pond needed) But If your luck is like mine you will end up with all roosters that crow all night , and they aint much for egg layin either

Oh yeah be careful of mites on chickens lol

[mm34b]

Originally Posted by nascarnancy

Note to self: need ducks, bats, large bug swater, bug zapper, screened porch and don't brush up againts large grass, Queens Ann's lace or step in pine straw (to avoid chiggers).

Now do I need a pond for these ducks? If so, will I be defeating the purpose if I have a pond how will that up my mosquito population? Or was that where the bats come in, darn gotta go back and re-read posts! LOL

I just had grown Easter type, non-flying, white ducks. They were satisfied with a plastic kids pool for recreation.

Don't forget the Ladybugs. They love to eat the all the aphids in your garden. You can buy them by the thousands at the better garden stores.

Bats eat the mosquitoes and harmless snakes will keep your property free of rodents. Everyone has a role to play.

[silverwing]

Originally Posted by nascarnancy

Note to self: need ducks, bats, large bug swater, bug zapper, screened porch and don't brush up againts large grass, Queens Ann's lace or step in pine straw (to avoid chiggers).

Guinea fowl


I guess they ended up on the dinner plate; a neighbor of ours had a flock of them that ranged the neighborhood. They eat anything that might try to eat on you. They're also quite fearless. When the flock came into our yard, our dogs went on point, determined to check these odd creatures. In almost a military maneuver, the guineas swung and marched toward the dawgs. Fly and Spencer looked at me, looked at each other, decided that neither wanted to take one for the team, and fled into the house.

[Bound4NC]

My pure breed shepherd has got a few before.

[silverwing]

I'd heard of these things, but didn't believe they existed until I looked them up:

THE! AMAZING! HAND HELD! BUG ZAPPER!!!!!

http://www.seenontv.com/prod-pages/images1/BZ-NewAdd.jpg (broken link)

One reviewer writes:
"Most importantly, it gives out a most satisfying ZAP! when waved at an offending bug, whose charcoaled body then plummets to the earth, occasionally emitting a single forlorn wisp of smoke."

Kick.Butt. As a kid, I probably would have taken it after my little brother. Since I'm now an adult, it has to be put to more staid uses. Still, rather than escape the more pesky bugs (skeeters, wasps, hornets) in a flurry of pin-wheeling arms, I can "schwoosh!" that at them and watch as they spiral to the ground, hopefully with a tiny squeal of agony

[disclaimer: usually I'm on the bug's side, championing their beneficial uses. However, with some bugs it's a case of "hey! he started it!" so turnabout is fair play, IMO]

[Mountain Man]

LMAO that is pretty cool what will they think of next

[Miker2069]

well I have the lamest reason for choosing charlotte over raleigh- I needed a pro football team

Also I am moving from Boston and after 15 years have a had enough- bring on the slower pace, lack of rude people, and no more noreasters (if you don't know what a noreaster is, consider yourself lucky!)

[beenc2]

Interesting what you said about Raleigh. I've lived there for 2 years, and couldn't want to leave.

Palm trees are native to the very southernmost point of NC, from about Wilmington south to the South Carolina border within about 12 miles of the ocean. The sabal palm is the tree that grows here. They aren't as large as they are in Florida, but they do grow. The beaches on the southern coast are very different than the beaches on the Outer Banks.

[itsme2]

Check out Clearwater Beach Florida (Tampa Bay). It's a barrier island so the are no mosquitos and rarely any flies, exceptional white sandy beaches.