Control mosquitoes without spraying

To the Editor,

As we head into spring, some people’s thoughts turn to love, some turn to renewal, some turn to lightweight clothes, and some turn to mosquito control.

I’d like to urge those of you concerned about mosquitoes to turn to less toxic alternatives to get rid of them.

Mosquitoes are such weak flyers that a fan blows them away. In my household, we love sitting out on our deck. A fan keeps us mosquito-free and comfortable.

Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so walk through your yard and empty any such source, such as an upright wheelbarrow or a bird bath. If you love your bird bath, empty, clean, and refill it often.

You can also use Bti dunks, which are harmless to pets and most wildlife, including birds, honey bees, and other beneficial insects. If you have standing water that you cannot regularly empty out, add a dunk. If it’s a very small amount of water, you can slice a dunk and just add a half or a quarter. As the dunks dissolve and larvae hatch, the larvae eat the bacteria the dunk releases. This kills the larvae, so they never metamorphose into biting adult mosquitoes.

If you can, add the dunk after you notice mosquito eggs but before they start to hatch. However, using dunks is also effective even before eggs appear.

By taking these simple control measures, you will have no need to spray insecticides. More mobile than weak mosquitoes, insecticide sprays harm honey bees, other pollinators, and the fireflies that enchant us every June.

Insect populations are in deep decline around the world, but we need insects. They pollinate plants, form the bottom of the food chain for wildlife, and some, such as butterflies, bring delight to people.

Robin Schaufler
Swarthmore