Fight the bite with weaponry to battle mosquitoes
Expensive, high-tech gadgets not always best, experts say
By Jeordan Legon
CNN
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(CNN) -- Zap them, swat them, spray them and curse them. Mosquitoes are here to stay. But that won't stop fresh-air lovers from trying to get rid of the pesky skeeters. From low-tech methods that cost practically nothing to bulky gadgets that run hundreds of dollars, here are some methods commonly used to try to keep bites to a minimum.
ZAPPERS
Most of these gadgets use the notion that bugs are attracted to ultraviolet light. Once the bugs enter the contraptions, they hit an electrified wire grid that essentially fries them. Consumers Union tested these contraptions and found that they do indeed kill insects, but not just mosquitoes. Wasps, flies, bees and moths all turn to toast. Most make noise every time they fry a bug. This indiscriminate zapping makes environmentalists cringe. You're going to kill insects that might be beneficial to your garden, bug expert Rosmarie Kelly said.
CARBON DIOXIDE DEVICES
These devices generate carbon dioxide and warmth using propane. Some also claim to mimic the scent of warm-blooded animals. But all that fancy smell and heat production costs you money -- from a couple of hundred dollars to close to $2,000, depending on the size of the area you want protected. Consumers Union, which tested a few of these devices, found after releasing a couple of thousand mosquitoes in a 15-by-30 foot room, two machines captured the most bugs: American Biophysics' Mosquito Magnet Liberty and the Lentek Mosquito Trap. Bug experts warn that these devices are not perfect. After all, they work by attracting mosquitoes, so if you're anywhere around the device, chances are, mosquitoes will be around you too, said Kelly, a medical entomologist at the Georgia Division of Public Health. American Biophysics Corporation suggests that their Mosquito Magnet traps be placed 30 - 40 feet away from areas where people gather to prevent possible bites.
DEET
Many mosquito repellents are made with the chemical N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide. It's a mouthful, but entomologists say DEET, as it's commonly referred to, is a tried and tested way of keeping bugs away. But to prevent possible health problems such as dizziness, confusion or allergic reactions, bug expert Kelly suggests adults should use DEET sprays or lotions with 30 percent concentrations or less. Children older than 2 should use 10 percent solutions, she said, and infants and women who are pregnant or nursing should stay away from the stuff. Repellent industry experts also urge that DEET not be applied around the eyes, mouth or nose. And users are encouraged to try a patch test on a small area of skin before applying over more of the body.
BATS
It might sound weird, but the idea of bats eating mosquitoes is sometimes bantered about. Wayne J. Crans, a Rutgers University entomologist, said bats are not the answer for controlling mosquitoes. "Bats feed on the same insects that turn up in bug zappers and are no more effective for controlling mosquitoes than their electronic equivalent," he writes on the Rutgers Web site. "Providing habitat to enhance bat populations is an admirable activity for conservation purposes. Using mosquito control as the reason to initiate public interest is misleading at best."
ULTRASONIC GADGETS
These small devices are worn on the wrist or clipped to a keychain. Manufacturers say they make noises that repel mosquitos, and premium models also claim to repel rats, spiders and hornets. But Crans, of Rutgers University, advises buyers to stay away. "Scientific studies have repeatedly shown that electronic mosquito repellers do not prevent host-seeking mosquitoes from biting," he writes on Rutgers' Web site.
PESTICIDES
Experts say spraying pesticides in the bushes around your yard a day before an outdoor gathering will help keep mosquitoes away temporarily. More permanent solutions include spray systems like Mosquito Be Gone. The sprinklerlike systems automatically spray several times daily. But some experts worry that round-the-clock spraying might lead to pesticide-resistant strains of bugs. Entomologist Kelly prefers a product called Mosquito Dunks, a bacteria tablet that can be dropped in standing water to target mosquito larvae. It is not toxic to other insects, humans or animals, she said. "You can actually put it in animal drinking water. It's very low toxicity."
CITRONELLA / NATURAL REPELLENTS
Citronella oil is known to be somewhat effective at repelling mosquitos, but the problem, said Rutgers professor Crans, is that the antimosquito claims made by distributors of plants genetically engineered to emit a citronella aroma "have not stood up to scientific testing." Crans writes that studies found: "crushing the leaf and rubbing it into the skin did not keep mosquitoes from biting and mixing the leaves into a slurry did not help." Pyrethrum, which produces small, white, daisylike flowers, also is believed to act as a natural insecticide. Numerous candles and sprays use lemongrass, sage, pine, cedar, lavender and even soybeans to repel bugs. But if these products work at all, they tend to have to be reapplied constantly to maintain their effectiveness, Kelly said.
COMMON SENSE
Wear long sleeves and pants when going into areas with a lot of mosquitoes. Remove standing water from your property. Sit near a fan or someplace where there's a breeze. "Mosquitoes can't fly well when there's even a light breeze," Kelly said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends staying indoors at dawn and dusk, which are peak biting times for some species of the bugs. And replace your outdoor lights with yellow "bug" lights, which are believed to attract fewer mosquitoes than white light, the Environmental Protection Agency urges.
