Mosquitoes, Bugs, West Nile, Encephalitis and Other Guests You Don't Want at Your Party

One of the questions I am asked most often when doing wedding planning is "How do I keep mosquitoes away from my outdoor party?" In the past it has not been a great problem. With the heightened awareness over the West Nile Virus and encephalitis the problem is a greater concern.

There is a great deal of information and misinformation available on the world wide web. Much of this is due in part because of two different camps of thought. Some groups most notably the pest control industry feel strongly about using pesticides and chemicals. The other camp is leaning in the opposite direction. This page is by no means a complete analysis of the subject nor intended to guide one way or the other. Read what is available here and at other sources and make your own judgement

Steps to Reduce The Problem

Search and destroy (drain) breeding habitat.

BREEDING HABITATS. Mosquito larvae and pupae must have water in which to live. An object capable of retaining water for five or more days is a potential breeding area for some species of mosquito

Laird (1988) reclassifies the habitats in which mosquito larvae can develop. He discusses 11 such habitat categories:

1. Flowing streams (including drainage ditches)
2. Ponded streams
3. Lake edges
4. Swamps
5. Shallow permanent ponds
6. Shallow temporary pools (snow melt pools)
7. Intermittent ephemeral puddles
8. Natural containers (abandoned snail shells, leaves of the pitcher plant, tree holes)
9. Artificial containers (flower pots, tires, construction depressions)
10. Natural subterranean waters (holes dug by crabs, hoofprints)
11. Artificial subterranean waters (septic tanks, storm and sewage drains)
12. Eavestroughs

Keep in mind that an understanding of the various places in which mosquitoes can breed is vital to any control program.

Where water cannot be removed larvacide could be used. Common laravcides are chlorpyrifos (Dursban), fenthion (Baytex), malathion, methoxychlor, prethrins and temephos (Abate).

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, also known as "Bti" or "mosquito dunk", is a bacteria that kills the larvae. (It's harmless to pets and humans.) You can buy it in briquets (often doughnut-shaped). Toss it into standing water, where mosquitoes breed. By "standing water", we don't mean a pond, necessarily. A thimble-full of stagnant water is enough to breed thousands of mosquitoes.

Oil can also be used to kill larvae. Fuel oil no. 2, diesel oil no. 2 or kerosene may be used. Only temephos should be used if fish are present.

Adulticiding

Spraying

This method places the insecticides on the foliage of trees shrubs, tall grass, tree trunks and the sides of structures where resting mosquitoes may contact it. Diluted amounts of pesticides are used including carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, malathion, mehoxychlor, naled, permethrin, pyrethrins, propoxur and resmethrin.

Avoid bites

Wear clothing that is light in colour and lose fitting.

Wear insect repellants.

Citronella candles can replace regular candles.

Citronella lanterns can also be used but with great care as they burn very dirty.

Mechanical Traps

The Liberty Mosquito Magnet® traps insects and protects up to 1 acre. Check for rental availability.

Coleman makes Mosquito Deleto but it is not yet available in Canada. Try Wal Mart or Home Depot in Buffalo but at last check it is out of stock until July.

Other Resources

A recent article on the West Nile Virus in Eye Magazine.

The bug spray lobby viewpoint can be read here.

No Spray Coalition in New York City offers the anti spraying viewpoint.

Bug-spray.com has a great evaluation of different types of repellants.

Bug Free Living is published by Johnson, the makers of Raid, Off and our Eureka tents.

For party rental prices or to rent a "Coleman Mosquito Deleto" now visit the ASAP Tent and Party Rentals Online Rental Store