PMOP MOSQUITO CONTROL PROJECT

    Mosquitoes are bothersome pests and also pose health risks as transmitters of disease. Mosquito-borne diseases in our area include West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine encephalitis, and St. Louis encephalitis. The species causing much of our discomfort and health risks is the Asian Tiger mosquito - a recent arrival that flourishes in our urban/suburban environment (it's largely absent in nearby natural envirornments). The Asian Tiger bites multiple hosts as their eggs develop, making them particularly efficient at transmitting diseases.

    The Asian Tiger has a short flight range (less than 200 m), so breeding sites are likely to be close to where the mosquito is found. This fact suggests that local steps to eradicate the pest will reward neighborhoods that make a collective effort in controlling its breeding cycle.

    Successfully killing mosquitoes is based on a simple yet important observation. When mosquitoes become adults, they rule the skies. Locating and killing winged bugs is difficult. Consequently, eliminating sources of standing water on your landscaping (in which mosquito larvae are born) and/or killing mosquito larvae confined to water is most effective.

   The PMOP will encourage neighbors to fight this pest in our neighborhood with casual monitoring of potential breeding grounds and selling "Victory Ponds". A Victory Pond is a fish bowl containing an Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia Holbrooki) and a waterplant. Placed in an outdoor area out of direct sunlight, the fish will interrupt the mosquito's reproductive cycle by feasting on deposited eggs and developing larvae.

   Payment options include cash, check, or Paypal.

VICTORY POND

Bowl + Mosquito Fish + plant = $20

Some things to remember:

*    Add water from non-tap sources (or leave tap water in the sun for several hours to break down clorine)

*    Keep bowl out of direct sunlight (on the porch next to shoes is a good location)

*    Feed sparingly during times of no mosquito activity.

*    If the fish dies, get another one or dump out the water!

Palisades resident Michael Dolan wrote an article about the problem for the City Paper in 2004. The article can be found here.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many bowls would I need for my yard and what kind of maintenance is involved?

I would suggest just one.  The idea is to have only one small bit of standing water (the fish bowl) on a property so that mosquitoes will have only one option for depositing eggs. If you are feeling especially vigilant, you can place cups in the yard, and when they fill with water, deposit the contents into the Victory Pond. Makes sure this is done weekly, otherwise eggs will hatch and larvae metamorphose.

Will I be able to use my backyard this summer?

The trick is to get as many neighbors involved as possible.  Unfortunately, one wreck of a yard (plastic toys, tarps, etc.) will ruin it for a lot of neighbors with good intentions.  The only maintenance is adding water on occassion (not straight from the tap), and I suppose checking to see if the fish is still alive.

I thought the primary defense is to eliminate standing water where they can breed.  If you already have a pond it's good to have fish to eat the larva, but why set up another water source?

Yes eliminating standing water is key.  But getting rid of all sources is nearly impossible - I think clogged gutters along with underground water conduits are the biggest problems.  If the mosquito lays eggs in water with fish it will have "chosen" a dead end to its reproduction.  There are no mosquitoes for instance around the beaver ponds below chain bridge because of fish and dragonflies.  The best scenario would be to eliminate standing water and have one pond with fish.  The mosquito would have little choice other than choosing a "dead end" breeding pool.  You just have to make sure that the fish survive in the pond.

My pond contractor said he could eliminate mosquitoes from my yard by installing a MistAway system that involves early morning and early evening spraying.  It’s pricey but I might use it if I was assured it didn’t harm the environment.  Know anything about MistAway?

I don't know about this product. Getting the yard gassed twice a day is something that should be well-researched before implemented. Also I found this - "Managment of Asian Tiger adult populations is more complicated than for other species due to insecticide tolerance to malathion, temephos and bediocarb (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report 1987).