Hello, Anyone know what I can spray/put on puddles and standing water around the property to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs? I do not want to use chemicals or harmful materials to do this. Thanks Mary

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), April 05, 2000

Answers

I use "mosquito dunks" , little disks that you put in standing water, not harmful to fish or animals. It says biological control, so I think it is BT? You could also use a few drops of mineral oil, that will "seal" the surface and the larvae cant breath. If the pond id big enough, use minnows

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), April 05, 2000.

I stock any permanent standing water with minnows, including the rain barrels. If I am having a problem with shallow puddles during the wet season, I fill them in with wood chips, which you can get for free from just about any tree trimming service which works in your area. If you call your power company, they will probably put you on their 'dump site' list for when they send their crews out.

-- Connie (connie@lunehaven.com), April 05, 2000.

You can get the mosquito donuts (as I call them) from Planet Natural. Check out their website at www.planetnatural.com 800-289-6656

Peaceful Valley Farm Supply also carries them. www.groworganic.com 888-784-1722

-- Vaughn (vdcjm5@juno.com), April 05, 2000.

Thanks for all the responses. I looked up my Peaceful Valley Farm Supply catalog, and the ingredient in the mosquito dunks is "Bt v israelensis", so you are correct. I like the wood chips idea, and I need to fill in the low places around my garden anyway. I will try the mineral oil in places where I can't put the chips. Thanks everyone. I have to get a handle on this before the weather gets warm and before I need to get in the garden often. Last year I was attacked by mosquitoes!

-- Mary Fraley (kmfraley@orwell.net), April 06, 2000.

My husband buys little feeder goldfish for the rainbarrels and any small pond that they can't get out of. Last fall he caught the five he'd put in a pond at his parents place, and is keeping them in an aquarium until he can put them back out (pretty soon,now, I should think -- the crocuses are blooming). They've gotten pretty big, and have been fun to watch through winter's dark days.

-- Kathleen Sanderson (stonycft@worldpath.net), April 12, 2000.