If I build it, will they come?
by
Teresa D
+14
(I hope this isn't a duplicate. My initial post froze or something) Anyway, I've got mosquitoes galore in my tree-filled yard. They are eating very well off me, my kids and dogs! I've been doing some reading on mosquito control and am seriously looking at a bat house. My question is ... if I haven't really seen many bats around, if I build a bat house, how do I attract the bats to it?
Has anyone done this before and had success?
Has anyone done this before and had success?
15 answers
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See this for some pointers, Teresa: http://www.georgiawildlife.com/node/1093
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 10, 2012
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We have bats (naturally) and it doesnt cure the problem - we live on the Yellow River. Mosquito Magnet works for us!
Designs by BSB
on Aug 10, 2012
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Hmmmm ... thanks for that link, Douglas. I didn't think about the droppings ... and since they said don't put it in a tree, I don't know where I would put it so it gets enough sun. Never heard of Mosquito Magnet @ BeckySue. I've gotta look that one up. Thanks!
Teresa D
on Aug 10, 2012
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Teresa, I am sure you understand that mosquitoes will flourish when standing water is around. And the one place everyone forgets about is the gutters. Be sure that yours are clean. As any leaves or debris in them will cause just enough ponding of water to allow these bugs to grow. There are propane fired traps but they are expensive. They create CO2 and heat which attracts them towards the unit. once close by they are sucked into a screen bag that is attached to a vacuum fan that is part of the unit. The biggest issue with any kind of attractant type of system is that you also bring in these bugs from areas that normally would never have even been around your home. We use a very large bug zapper. This seems to work very well for us. But with the very warm weather combined with the occasional showers we have been having the insect population is out of control in some areas of the country. We also use fans. The mosquito is a very light insect often carried many miles in the slightest breeze. Ever try to kill one by slapping your hands together? The air pressure that results oftentimes pushes them out from between your hands. They are not naturally that quick to simply fly away. But the fans tend to push them out of the area to quickly for them to become a bother. Good luck and let us know what if anything you decide to do.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Aug 11, 2012
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Teresa.. Home Depot sells them, and you can often find them on Craigslist too. They work on propane with the C02 and an attractant that Woodbridge mentions. It is not cheap, but in our book, is worth every penny in our book. Woodbridge... the south, with longer warmer climates, breeds more extreme bugs (as Ive unfortunately learned after moving here from Michigan!) :-)
Designs by BSB
on Aug 11, 2012
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Ok. So I went to U-Spray and they suggested something called Cyonara. http://www.bugspraycart.com/insecticide/liquid/cyonara-32-oz-rts I had my son spray the yard with it. It is supposedly safe to use around plants and won't harm my dogs. It rained right after he sprayed the yard so I don't know if it will last as long as it should. I can say though, I have noticed a significant reduction in the number of mosquitoes in my yard. It treats other bugs too so maybe it will finally kill those mites on my camelias as well! That would be a bonus! We'll see how long this lasts. Thanks again for the feedback!
Teresa D
on Aug 15, 2012
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Make sure you don't spray something that will kill the good with the bad.
Douglas Hunt
on Aug 16, 2012
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It says it controls Mosquitoes, Chinch Bugs, Fleas, Grubs, Aphids, Fire Ants & Mites. I think all of those are bad? Well, anything that bites me or tries to fly in my eyes, ears, nose or mouth is a bad bug to me. lol The active ingredient is 0.5% Lambda-cyhalothrin which lists the following: kills grubs, ants, fleas, chinch bugs, mosquitoes, sod webworms, aphids, beetles, whiteflies, mites, deer ticks, Japanese beetles, European crane flies, fire ants and other listed insects. Not sure what the "other listed insects" are. I guess that's how they getcha! The spiders seem to be getting along fine. I did get bit last night. Not sure by what. But again, the mosquito population is nowhere near what it was before I sprayed. Hope I didn't disrupt the ecosystem too much.
Teresa D
on Aug 16, 2012
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I read the specimen label and the MSDS labels...be real careful teresa.
Marg C
on Aug 17, 2012
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I volunteer for wildlife and also know bat rehabber. Most bat houses are NOT constructed properly. Bats are very particular. It's not likely you could get them to roost. Find other natural methods as some some suggested . Good luck.
Brenda Wells
on Mar 01, 2015
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doing things the natural way is always better than spraying chemicals... if you have a fishpond, nature made or man made, you can get some mosquito fish & that will help some.... Bats. the one animal that most everyone fears because of made up legends & other made up stories...and let us not forget the misinformation that has been spread about bats since time began. Truth is, bats consume more insects in one night, than any other insect predator on the planet.... Truth is, bats are more afraid of you than you are of them.... Truth is, everyone should have at least 1 bat house, 2 is better, 3 are ok, and anything more than 3 bat houses, will create problems within the bat community. You will prolly not find anyone who will give you a finished bat house...but on the internet, you WILL find those that are giving away free plans on how to build. If you plan on buying one that is already made & all you have to do is hang it, best check your bank account first....they are expensive. I've seen them selling for $75 & up.....now I can not say how good they are, because I have never bought one due to lack of finances. but one you build yourself, I'm sure will be a lot better because ... YOU pick the wood you want to use. YOU choose weather to stain it or paint it. YOU choose what color you want it to be when you paint/stain it... YOU choose every single aspect of the bat house. How many commercially made products do you think you can do that with & not charge you an arm, leg,retirement plan, etc.,etc.,etc. ? I rehabilitate wild animals, so I am always looking for natural ways to solve this or that problem. When the animal is strong enough & healthy enough to support himself, I take them to a state or federal park & set them free. I do not do this for $$$, I do it because I love animals....ALL animals.
Capernius
on Apr 28, 2015
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I wish that I had some clever ideas for you. Good luck. I agree to be very careful of the spraying of chemicals. I have heard of people having good luck with Bats.
Diana Hansen
on Jun 16, 2015
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Bats are great and will come also set up a bird bath [ either use the a fountain or go to hardware store and buy the donuts that keep mosquitoes from laying eggs] next check your yard any old buckets or anything around have water in it ? Does your yard have puddles that last 24 hours [ that is all a mosquito egg nerds to hatch] Bat house plans are on line also check your state wildlife store.
Pgl
on Jun 16, 2015
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They must be in need of a location and the Bat House MUST be of exact specifications. The use of essential oils.. Lemon .Eucalyptus oil is proving to be very helpful abnd a healthily alternative to DEET.
Brenda Wells
on Jun 18, 2015
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The. CDC just confirmed that Lemon Eucalyptus oil is more effective than DEET. SEE article on. Treehugger.com.
Brenda Wells
on Jun 18, 2015
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