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A mosquito that cannot hatch is a mosquito that cannot bite!
If you have mosquitoes in your back yard, chances are they are breeding very
close to your home! The two most common mosquitoes in Tennessee that carry
West Nile virus (Culex pipien and Culex quinquefasciatus) have a flight range of
1/4 to 1/2 mile according to John D. Hopkins of the University of Arkansas. (The
EPA states 1/4 to 1 mile.) Some other species can travel further.
WHAT CAN YOU DO? Reduce or eliminate all standing water in your yard
especially in childrens toys, clogged gutters, tires, flowerpots, trash
cans, and wheelbarrows. Mosquito larvae look like little wiggling worms. They
are also sometimes called wigglers. Killing mosquitoes in the larval and pupae
stages of their development is much easier than killing adults.
Change the water in kiddie pools, dog bowls and bird baths every other
day. You can purchase a product called "The Water Wiggler" (cost $24.95) for your bird bath at The
Wood Trush Shop at 6029 Hwy 100 in Belle Meade. It jiggles the water for 2 months on 2 D batteries preventing mosquitoes from laying their eggs.
If you can't get rid of standing water, buy a larvicide called Mosquito
Dunks (see photo to the left) or Mosquito Bits at garden centers or home
improvement stores (approximate cost is $9.00 for six dunks). Larvicide kills
mosquito and fly larvae for 30 days or more and does not harm other living
things. Check out BioControl Network,
Brentwood, TN at (615) 370-4301 for other non-toxic alternatives.
Aerate ornamental pools or stock them with mosquito-eating fish like
Gambusia fish.
Limit time outdoors when mosquitoes are present. Mosquitoes that could
carry West Nile virus are out from dusk to dawn. Purchase a yellow bug
light for lights that are near your entry way doors.
If you must be outdoors, WEAR A MOSQUITO REPELLENT. We do NOT recommend
using DEET. To find out why read DEET
Alert! The CDC has recently approved two products that we feel are safer than
DEET (picardin and oil of lemon eucalyptus). We also recommend BITE BLOCKER which
is a non-toxic repellent that has done well in tests. Bite Blocker can be found
at Wild Oats in Green Hills and Franklin or at BioControl Network (see link
above). If you chose to use DEET, follow the directions carefully and wash it off
your skin and clothing when you come in.
Wear shoes, socks, long sleeve shirts and pants when outdoors during dusk and
dawn when mosquitoes are most prevalent. Clothing should be light colored and
made of tightly woven materials to keep mosquitoes away from the skin. Pant legs
should be tucked into shoes or socks, and collars should be buttoned. Light
colored clothes are less attractive to mosquitoes.
Place a fan on your deck or porch. Mosquitoes don't like the breeze!
Make sure all your windows and doors have screens and are in good
repair. | 
