Mosquito fogging

[Sandwichgen]

Have had the gutters cleaned, added tablets to the water butts and patio drain sumps (no other standing g water). Persuaded neighbours to trim their bamboo hedge, but still bitten to death every time I go outside

has anyone had their garden ‘fogged’ in the UK? It is common in the US

Would it not be easier, cheaper and kinder to the other insects to just wear insect repellant when you go outside?

Mosquitoes are strongly repelled by the smell of coconut, so maybe lather yourself in coconut-scented body lotion. There's coconut shampoo too, and quite a few sunscreens smell of it as well.

You cannot get rid of insects in their natural environment but what you can do is make yourself less attractive to them.

Where do you live, anyway, that you are so plagued by mozzies?

My whole neighbourhood has been fogged and we're still getting bitten to death everyday 😩

A mosquito bucket of doom (Google it) might be worth a shot?

General “fogging/srapying” is terrible for everything else.

Insect populations are collapsing rapidly; it's a massive ecological disaster. The last thing we need is more insecticides sprayed around.

Unlikely to make much difference to midges/mosquitoes anyway, they could be coming from anywhere.

The use of pesticides is much more heavily regulated in the UK in comparison to the US. There's no need to kill everything just because you're annoyed by midges on a few nights of the year.

Mosquito fogging is a terrible thing to do- it kills all insects and damages the birds that feed on them.

You seem to have done most of what's in the government advice, except they recommend a healthy pond to encourage predators

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachmentdata/file/577340/Mosquitoocontrolfactsheet.pdf

I’ve never had to worry about mozzies in the garden until this year. I’m outraged that I may have to wear insect repellant to go into my own garden. One got me when I was picking strawberries- she’s now an ex-mosquito. What gets me is the amount of (my) blood that is spilt when I squash them.

I react very badly to insect bites. ( Remember this!)

Yesterday DH and I were out all day in a wild greenery area. I sprayed myself beforehand with the mythical Avon "Skin so Soft" oil. DH didn't.
Result. Me: one bite on my hand.
DH: loads of bites all over.

I'm amazed, but it worked. Better than splatting all insect life.

I can’t go outside at all, even in the bright sun. Lond sleeves, long trousers and Jungle Formula yesterday - and I still have 10 new bites. I was only out about half an hour (west London)

The US does lots of crazy things OP. Doesn’t mean they are okay and we should do them here.
Try and make your garden more environmentally friendly to get a better ecosystem balance.
Continue with the insect repellent (I can’t understand how they are bring you through your clothing). Avoid perfumes.

I live very close to a large lake so there are always lots of mosquitos anyways, but after lots of rain and severe flooding a few weeks ago, the mozzie situation is completely out of control right now. Insect repellants seem to have stopped working and we're pretty much getting eaten alive whenever we dare to venture outside. Two hours in the garden mowing the lawn resulted in about 20 mosquito bites for me the other day (despite long trousers, long sleeves and dousing myself in the strongest repellant), so I really feel your pain!

Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is a perfectly ecological way of controlling mosquito populations that doesn't harm others insects or birds. Our useless local councils didn't stock up in time and now it's apparently too late and there are massive supply issues, but if you just need a small amount for your private garden, it seems to be easily available in the UK.
https://tealtropics.co.uk/product/summit-mosquito-fungus-gnat-dunks/

I've also heard good things about strategically placed CO2 traps in the garden. No personal experience yet, only ordered one yesterday. The Biogents Mosquitaire trap is supposed to be one of the best, but may not be easily available in the UK.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402305995597 (this listing has ended)

"Continue with the insect repellent (I can’t understand how they are bring you through your clothing)."

Sadly, clothing doesn't always stop them. I was wearing (light and stretchy) jeggings and the fuckers got through the fabric no problem. A looser fit and thicker fabric would probably have been a better choice..

I've moved to the uk after 18 years in Asia. Didn't 'fog' there and won't ever here. The mozzies left for about half an hour and then rocked back up again at the places which fogged. Total waste of time and environmental nightmare. We had lots of good drainage and good planting. Plus lots of geckos so not sure what the uk equivalent would be...

I fancy a gecko army!

Thanks Snowdiariies - those dunk things are what I have ised in the water butts and patio drains.

i shall look into the CO2 trap.

i Have citronella, butane powered coils, and a blue light lantern that incinerates the feckers. I still get bitten

Plus lots of geckos so not sure what the uk equivalent would be...

Bats, swallows and swifts...probably lots of other birds.

Fogging one garden in London would be super temporary fix - environmental concerns aside it just wouldn’t work for more than a couple days max? I grew up in a mosquito dense part of the world where fogging was common (and necessary due to disease) but it is only effective when done on a regular schedule at a neighbourhood level. Some people are hyper attractive to mosquitoes-know because I am one - only takes one and I am a magnet.

some things that help

1. repellant applied routinely - maybe try different types if yours isn’t working.
2. eliminate habitats (standing pools of water)
3. consider a bug zapper
4. avoid being out during peak times (dawn and dusk)

Skin-tight clothing won't help. Loose, and/or double layer.

If anyone still can't think of a reason why we shouldn't do this sort of thing, then you need to look up what happened when they used DDT.