Well, if you are like most people who enjoy their patio, you do something to get rid of the problem.  One step people take is to use bug spray or other bug repellent in attempts to keep them away from you.  Another thing you might try is to use a  bug zapper that will kill those little buggers before they get to you.  A third option is to kill them in other ways using special traps or misting systems.  The last resort is you just give up and go inside, vowing to never deal with them again.
Now, before you quit and go inside, let’s explore some of these options mentioned.  The first one is to spray on bug repellent.  This is a quick and dirty solution that might come back to bite you in the end itself.  These sprays often contain agents that you would never dream about ingesting or wanting your kids to breathe, yet you spray it all over you and your children’s bodies so they don’t get bit.  This is not a very environmentally friendly solution and it also isn’t good health-wise if you consider what pesticides can do.

Let’s skip the bug zapper plan and move to the mosquito traps.  These are basically ways to lure the mosquitoes into a trap where they will eventually rest in peace.  They work by emitting carbon dioxide, water vapor (in some cases), and possibly pheromones in some models.  These compounds are what mosquitoes are attracted to, so they will

Typical looking light of a bug zapper.

follow the scent.  When they get close enough, they are sucked up into the unit via the vacuum mechanism and they are trapped inside where they will be dehydrated.  Another plan of attack, more common in commercial or industrial/agricultural settings are the mosquito misting systems.  These work just like your patio misting system except they are spraying insecticides at specific intervals.  These intervals can be turned on with a switch, remote or timer.  Again, if exposure to pesticides is of concern to you, better to stay away from these methods.

Are Bug Zappers Your Best Alternative?

All right, back to the bug zapper.   These basically work by having an electrified grid that kills the insects when they are attracted to light and then fly into the grid.  These seem to be effective at killing those pesky insects, but you might be surprised to learn some interesting facts.  Some research has been done that revealed that these bug zappers actually do little in the way of lowering the number of mosquitoes in the area.  In fact, they mostly disproportionately kill other flying insects with respect to the percentage of mosquitoes.  What does this mean?  It means, all those zaps you hear are not likely from the insects you are trying to eliminate.  But, since they are relatively inexpensive and have a bit of a following, they continue to stick around.

If you are really wanting to eliminate your problem, you should consider some integrative pest management practices, as they are called, to help rid yourself of the issues before they start.  This includes things like eliminating standing water, this is where mosquitoes breed and lay their eggs.  It could also mean things like keeping your yard clean and free of debris and other agents that attract these types of insects.  Ultimately, the ‘green solutions’ will keep you better off in the long run and these are the practices that we at Patio Covers Place really support.

Related posts:

1. Mosquito Misting Systems vs Mosquito Traps
2. Misting Systems – How They Work and What They Are Good For

The mosquito misting system works in much the same way as your patio mist system works.  What happens is that the tubing and nozzles carry a certain percentage of pesticide solution that, as the name suggests, is misted into the air at certain intervals.  The timing of this can be controlled by a switch, a remote control or a timer that just puts the mist out every so often.  At Patio Covers Place, we aim to provide the greenest solutions to both the joys and pitfalls of a life enjoying the patio and backyard spaces we all inhabit.  So, while the idea and nature of how these systems work is based upon controlling mosquito populations, the means to get there are not worth the risks in our opinion.

Another option for controlling the pesky insects, notably the mosquito, is by using what are called traps.  The mosquito trap is a device that can be run at various distances from a patio or backyard area because of what they

A typical looking mosquito trap.

run on.  Most of these systems use a propane tank to run the power to them.  In just a moment, we will discuss how they work and their benefits, but let’s first touch upon another old style of managing pests.

You are probably familiar with a bug zapper.  These are those hanging lights that have an electrical grid mounted around a light source.  When the bugs go towards the light, they are zapped and your pesky insect problems are zapped right along with them, right?  Wrong.  You see, the insects that are attracted to the light, are rarely the ones that bite – like the gnats, biting flies and mosquitoes.  Mostly, moths and other harmless insects are the ones that the bug zapper kills.  These bug zappers have actually been shown through research at various universities to harm the local micro-ecosystem of the surrounding areas due to this selective insecticide.  What is much more approved by experts in their respective fields is what is known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM).  This involves managing the other aspects of the problems.  For example, mosquitoes breed and lay eggs in water.  So, IPM strategies look to solutions like eliminating standing water in areas around the home or commercial sites, eliminating the problem before it begins.  It is more of a preventative approach.

How Do Mosquito Traps Work

Mosquitoes are attracted to humidity and carbon dioxide.  This is why they are worse in the warm and humid summer months where they can find all sorts of carbon dioxide emitting sources (humans) enjoying the outdoors.  The mosquito trap takes advantage of these facts.  The trap is a unit that is about the size of a patio heater – and work in a similar manner using propane tanks for power.

The trap using the propane to power up an emitter that sprays a mixture of fine water vapor (not all models) and carbon dioxide gas.  Additionally, some models also have some pheromones that attract the mosquito specifically.  Then, the mosquitoes follow this ‘scent’ or path toward the unit.  As they get closer and closer, the scent is stronger and stronger until they get too close and get sucked into the unit through the vacuum opening.  The mosquitoes are literally sucked up into the unit where they are trapped forever and die.

These traps have a working radius distance of up to 50-100 feet, depending upon which manufacturer you read.  These traps are also much more environmentally friendly as they don’t add any more pesticides not only into your body, but into the ground water supply as well.  All you really need to do for upkeep is to keep the propane tanks full and clean out the trap every so often.  Costs for a reliable unit are in the range of $200-400 USD.

What comes off as informative and helpful information from a manufacturer of said products may be slightly misleading.  So, if you are interested in learning more about the pesticides used in the misting system model, check out this EPA fact sheet.  Just remember, with mosquito traps you don’t have to worry about any pesticide exposure and they are easy to move around.

Photo credit

Related posts:

1. Bug Zapper
2. Misting Systems – How They Work and What They Are Good For