What is the best method to keep mosquitoes out of a 3/4 acre area?
Spraying a particular chemical? I have a mosquito magnet and am
disappointed. It kills LOTS of mosquitoes but doesn't seem to make a
dent, and is expensive (to buy and to run).

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Request for Question Clarification by tutuzdad-ga on 14 Jun 2006 18:22 PDT

You may laugh but as strange as it may sound to you, there is a little
known but frequently practiced method of ridding an area of mosquities
that many rural folks will agree is quite effective: Smoldering cow
manure. Farmers, cowboys, gardners and other people familiar with the
outdoors have been using this method for hundreds of years.

It sounds gross but it's actually quite clean, organic and fairly
easy. Simple buy a bag of dried manure of the type commonly used to
fertilize a garden. Take about one shovel full (don't worry, it's dry
and doesn't smell) and place it in the center of the area in question.
You can use some dry kindling, charcoal briquettes, or a gas torch to
start the pile buring. It will be very difficult to burn but once it
starts the fire will eventually burn itself out. What you are left
with is a very small, gently smoldering pile of charred manure that
will repel mosquites from a large area as long as the pile is
producing smoke, similar to the way an incense or a Citronella candle
burns (usually long enough to have a barbeque or other outdoor
gathering.

I assure you, it works. Try it and come back and let me know if my
trick was worth the fee.

tutuzdad-ga

This may be of interest:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mosquito#Mosquito_control_and_integrated_mosquito_management

Mosquitos aren't big on travel. For the most part, mosquitos around
your home are YOUR mosquitos! Clear out standing water of every kind
and eliminate mosquito housing areas within one or two hundred feet of
your perimeter and you should be okay. A purple martin house will help
make a huge difference as they are voracious mosquito eaters.

Mosquito Coils bought from the supermarket.
Mortein sells packs of 30, with only 1 holder, you can always rig up
some sort of holder and light all 30 spread across the area. I think
they are made of elephant dung.
Citronella candles are another option.
Of course tutuzdad-ga has the best idea.
I would also recommend you get some roll-on personal insect repellant
(tropical strength) for your guests if you are planning a party or
whatever. This can be used on hats and clothing as well. Wearing loose
fitting, long sleeves is also an idea.
Out of curiosity where are you located?

I got Citronella and Eucalyptus from a British Airways travel clinic
- the quack said it worked best
- that was a long time ago, and only after the doctor realized I was
in need of jabbing up

UV electric zappers are great fun - nothing like listening to dying mozzies

Some time ago, I heard about a jab that does not prevent the swine
biting you, but kills them (oddly only female mozzies bite - or I am I
wrong).

Getting rid of stagnant water works, well that is the most primitive
form of hygiene. A little kerosene (parafin) is politically incorrect,
but it works and is fairly 'organic'.

Shoving a cow pat on the barbie sounds a brilliant idea
- that could catch on (apart from Africa and India where it is used as fuel)

I'm looking forward to testing that.

Hm, turns out purple martins aren't the mosquito eaters I thought they
were. They are primarily daytime feeders and, of course, eat all
insects.

Not sure which one bites, male or female, but I seem to think the
noisy, buzzing ones don't bite and the quiet ones do.

I live in Massachusetts (I guess a more permanent solution would be to
move to San Diego). I will try the manure burning this weekend and let
everyone know how it goes. For a one-person solution, I've found a
cigar works best - though not so good for your ankles.

I have always found a human decoy effective
- the mozzies go for them
- and the lass is multifunctional