There are mosquito's in Florida? Since when?

The sheer amount of them seemed to explode in just the last 2 day here. Last weekend i could stand in the yard and maybe have one or two land on me but today i could barely keep my eyes open when bent down as there were so many.

Pea,

I haven't been seeing the mosquitoes in our yard.

But, last weekend I thought I'd be a nice neighbor and give a few more succulents to my neighbor. I have given them many in the last month and they have started a desert garden with them. So, I had a few more to give away and asked if they wanted them. They did and I volunteered to plant them.

Well, when I went into their new garden and started digging I was swarmed by mosquitoes. They had a shallow dish laying there that had collected water...I'm guessing that was the culprit. I have a severe reaction to mosquitoes so I had to take Benadryl asap.

Rhonda

I have birdbaths but the water is always fresh not larva harboring. They were the worst under the oak where i work on the plant as it is very shady there

yep, I'm getting bit but not swarms like you, Pea. I have resorted to repellent only once this season. But we continue to have rain so it will probably get worse.

I spoke too soon...I am getting bit every time I go outside now. Funny thing is that they only seem to bite me :)

They are very bad here day and night. I planted some peanut to see how they will do and was swarmed in min.

They are getting worse and the 2.5 inches of rain (glorious rain) we got yesterday will only encourage them. Last night's news said that of the entire Charlotte County, mosquito control will be focused on Englewood first.

Rhonda

Pea, we sent them south during our drought. You're welcome!

LOL, irma. I'm about two miles north of the Martin/St. Lucie line, and when my neighbors call the county to complain about mosquitos, the standard answer is that they are coming from Martin co. and so not their concern.

A flock attacked me as soon as I stepped out today.

Brevard started to spray this week and much to my surprise they came here Tuesday night they started Monday night.

My arms are covered with bites. I can't work outside without getting bit. Even got my fingers.

I bought a natural cedar spray to use and sprayed my arms and legs so they bit my fingers! How could they do that without my seeing them?

Oh, well, its summer in Florida.

Jane

My mom, some sisters & nieces say that spraying the yard with the concoction made of blue colored mouthwash, epson salt and stale beer works at keeping the mosquitoes away.

Google the recipe.

I've not tried it, so cannot say if it does or does not.

Since all of the rain (and boy, we've had a LOT in Jacksonville - sometimes twice a day!), the mosquitoes have really kicked up here, too.

I've been wearing a long-sleeve 100% linen shirt that was relegated to gardening.

I stopped at my local thrift store this week that sells their very oldest last-chance stuff outside for $1. I was looking for linen pajama pants or anything LONG but LIGHTWEIGHT. I picked up a pair of 100% cotton scrub pants. For $1. Perfect!

EDIT: I just spent an hour emptying water from the bird baths and the bromeliads. (I have a lot of bromeliads. Once you get a few - and then those few have pups - and then those have pups... like rabbits!) I could see the mosquito larvae wriggling around in the bromeliad cups. Ugh!

These are just a few of the broms:

Carol

Too funny - Dangermouse re "spraying the yard with the concoction made of blue colored mouthwash, epson salt and stale beer". I always thought mosquitoes were attracted to human smell... just saying... and throw in some bacon fat?

You are too funny, Irma!... (but I don't think she is trying to attract them...)

They are horrible here. Yesterday I tried to do some weed whacking. I put on jeans and long sleeve shirt. They bit me right through the shirt! So, came in and nearly drew blood with all my scratching.

Joe suggested that I put on his Costa Rica rain forest hooded jacket with draw string bottom. It was big enough on me that I could tighten the draw string around my butt :) The sleeves were long enough to tuck into my gloves. It worked although I was drenched in sweat when I was done.

Tomorrow when I mow I'll wear the same garb and add mosquito repellent.

Rhonda, I don't know how you do it. Or how they do it? A layer of clothing protection works for me... I guess I will count myself lucky!!... I just finished about six hours of yard and gardening work, mowing, blowing, edging, trimming... all in my linen shirt and new $1 pants, hehehehe... no bites... would you please post a photo of you all bundled up to do the yard?! I would love to see that. Stay hydrated!

Carol

Yeah, it's been raining constantly here since the rain started, with maybe a window of a couple of hours of clear weather in the early afternoon. I've noticed that all the lawn crews I see are bundled up more like they're going to be using snow blowers after a blizzard than weed whackers and leaf blowers.

Rhonda, have you tried crumbling mosquito dunks and putting some granules in each brom?

Its horrible in Sarasota. I've been eaten alive even with long sleeves. Rhoda, I'm tempted to put on my husbands winter snow jacket but afraid I'll pass out in the heat. They bite me through my long sleeves , socks.

This afternoon, came in for an AC break and a gallon of water. I flipped channels on the tv and came across QVC. They were selling a mosquito trap. I started to listen to the demonstration. Then callers, many from Florida saying how great it was. I took my phone, found QVC and hit 'Order.'

Have no idea if its any good. $80.00 bucks but they give a 3 month return. I figure, I could always return it. So I'll give it a shot and post back.

I'm desperate! Haven't told my husband yet...who never gets bit...go figure!

I am in Sarasota too and I cannot believe how horrible it has been this year. There were NO mosquitoes until about three weeks ago when the rains began and they are back with a vengeance. Somehow they keep getting into the house. I saw the mosquito truck driving around in my neighborhood yesterday and I hope he was doing some spraying.

I have not seen a truck.

You are right, I never remember it being this bad so early.

I live near a County Park and with all the rivers and lakes I think the mosquitoes were just waiting for the rains. I hope this trap works!

Jane

Jane is your QVC gadget the one called DynaTrap? Or SkeeterVac? Or something else?

These are recent pics of me without mosquito fighting garb :)

Spanish Point in Osprey, Florida.

Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo

Oops, sorry, Rhonda. The mosquito dunk suggestion was meant for Carol.

Love the zoo pic!

Rhonda, You are cracking me up with your mosquito gear! You look like you are headed for the tundra. I worked in the yard yesterday and I just went really heavy on the repellent. My problem is that as soon as we open a door I can see the mosquitoes wafting in. And they are those tiger striped ones - the ones that don't mind being out during the day. My concern is mostly my dogs. One already had heart worm when he was young and had to go through the treatment. They are both on heart worm medication but still I would rather they not be bitten by mosquitoes at all.

The lady at the health food store says to load up on B12 but google search gave mixed reviews on that. Some say it is a myth others swear by it. I take a multi B and I do get bit but I wouldn't say I'm a magnet and I don't get a re-action: welt or itch. so the bottom line is use DEET if you don't want to get mosquito borne illnesses.

Chit. I just heard thunder. MORE rain on the way. The ground is saturated.

I take a B complex every day and the mosquitoes love me.

Rhonda, those pictures are great!

I guess I am lucky with the mosquitoes, they don't seem to bother me, unless it is very early in the morning or very late at night. I walk the trail every day at about 7am and is fine, walk my dogs after that, then is the work in the garden. If I ever get a bite, I put either a calamine lotion or AmLactin cream. Once a week, when is dry I put a liquid Fungus gnats in the bromeliads and it works, I had that bottle anyway and now it gets used.

Silvia

Rhonda, love the shots. You look like you should be mowing in Vermont or Maine!

I have to see what thin jackets my husband has. I believe he brought along some Yankee and Giants jackets from NY. They are thick, designed for cold days. I'd surely die of heat stroke. Maybe I'll look in Walmart for some sort of rain slicker that's cheap.

Carol, its called Dyna Trap. It is supposed to emit carbon dioxide which is what mosquitoes follow to find something to bite. It is quiet. It has a small fan and as the mosquito flies near it it gets pulled in by the fan into a chamber which it can't get out. There is no zapper. It doesn't kill them, just traps them. It also attracts any insects which follow carbon dioxide such as biting flies and certain wasps. Doesn't affect bees or butterflies or other non biting insects.

I listened to a bunch of callers some use it in their house. That suprised me but a few women said they get mosquitoes inside due to the sliding doors opening and closing.

The trap comes in two sizes, 1/2 acre and full acre. I bought the smaller 1/2 acre. They let you use it for 3 months and if not happy, you get your money back.

So, I have to figure out where to place it. They say 20 - 40 ft from where you hang out. Problem is as a gardener, I'm all over the place.

Jane

Well I got tired of being attacked so I got out the can of yard guard so I can mow in peace works everytime but I don't like using it.

I worked today out in placida at a gallery...inside mind you...i was swatting skeeters all day that came in with the customers.

jane ny: I saw the Dynatrap at Costco today. Let me know if it works. If it does, I will get one to hang in the front yard.

Rhonda, those are some of the cutest/funniest photos I have ever seen on the Gardenweb! I laughed out loud seeing you with the hood pulled up in June. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Jane, I hope your new gadget works well! We'll be waiting to hear.

Glenn, I've never used yardguard - how long does it last? Just long enough to finish the yard?

I'm like Silvia - I never use sprays and I don't have that much trouble - the long-sleeve, long-pants thing is working well since the recent heavier-than-normal rains... and then I keep bottles of lotion/cream here at my desk... but it's for many "injuries" not just mosquito bites - my bromeliads (little thorns), my salvias (irritation) - just coat in lotion/cream and then continue typing away to ya'll...

All,

Thanks for the comments and advice. I have used B12 for decades and the mosquitoes obviously love me. As long as I can remember, they would bite me (used to swell up with knots) even when no one else was getting bit. Must be something that my body emits. I need to order some more Avon Skin-so-soft lotion...works pretty well as a mosquito repellent and doesn't stink or get sticky. I absolutely hate mosquito spray on my skin but sometimes there's no other choice.

Main problem here is that as soon as the swales dry up we get torrential downpours and they are full again. I might try dropping in some mosquito dunks in them....would that be effective?

Thanks!

Rhonda

Carol.

Yardgaurd works for about 2 hours on all biting flies and mosquitoes. I don't like using it because it kills all flying bugs in the area. But sometimes I have to.

So the mosquito truck came round the other night. But frankly i don't see a drop in the population of blood suckers at all. I was bringing in my groceries and a lil sucker flew up my shirt and bit me on my stomach...thats just mean. That skeeter did not live to see another evening...but a can't pull weeds as they are all up in my face even with repellant. I do not remember them this bad ever.

I am shocked we dont have more mosquitos than we do. We have a small branch of a river behind us that goes partly dry and stagnant. Ive noticed over the last 3 years we have had a ton of dragonflies showing up. The dragonfly larvae eat the mosquito larvae and the adults eat the adults. We also have a lot of bats. They come out swooping around at dusk. No clue where they roost around here.

Hmmm....i have not seen many dragonflies this year....maybe thats the problem.

So i was reading about dragonflies and it says they spend up to 5 years as aquatic larva...so with extreme dryness we had before all this rain i betcha it dried up those long living water holes so less dragonflies. But you, by a slow moving waterway is dragonfly haven and they likely flocked to your water source during the dry period and so you have a bumper crop of dragonflies.

Well, I set up the trap. It says to empty it once a week. I checked it after three days and it was disgustingly full.

I have to cover myself with deet and also use a organic product. I was trying to put down wood chips and got bit in places I must have missed (between my fingers, the palm of my hand, my butt, my scalp!). I was wearing long sleeves and jeans and the suckers bit me through the clothing.

The trap directions say it takes about two weeks to begin noticing a difference. I know it caught tons of them, but there are so many.

Its been so hot that I sweat and think it washes off my skin and I get bit. I never got bit before on the palm of my hand and fingers. Lets not even get into how one bit me on the butt!

So, now when I work in the yard, I wear mosquito netting. I look so weird like a bee keeper or something. But, dam, I've had it!

Jane

So interesting about the dragonflies!

I got bit on the ring finger the other day. First time I ever remember that happening.

We've had the wettest June ever in my gardening years... the first few weeks of July are forecast to be the same... emptying the water out of my many, many broms (the ones in pots) and a few birdbaths, too, has become a new gardening chore. :)

Carol

Pea you might be on to something about the dragon flies I don't have any this year and normally I would have dozens in my yard.

Does anyone here have Purple Martin Houses in their yard? I am debating putting some up. They eat zillions of moquitoes so I want to plus I love attracting wild birds to my yard. I am actually afraid there might not be enough mosquitoes here to feed the dragonflies, bats AND the purple martins. The purple martins might gobble up all the dragonflies..thoughts?

My aunt used to. She lived in winterhaven on a lake right in the middle of an orange grove so lots of land and water for the birds to hunt. She also had a pair of migrating peacocks show up too on an unrelated note

Ok I just read somewhere that its a myth that Purple Martins eat mainly mosquitoes and that they mostly eat larger insects like bees and dragonflies etc. Maybe I will wait on that idea lol. Im kinda thinking about getting some bee hives sometime in the future so that might not work out if they gobble up all the bees :/

Pea, I would love to have peacocks! We had guineas for years until one of our scumbag neighbors dogs came and ripped into their pen and killed them all.

She didn't mean to have peacocks, they just showed up one year and came back every year to fledge a few babes and leave again.