The Mosquito 86
The Mosquito 86 System that I tested recently is my weapon of choice against these disease-carrying blood suckers. It uses a solution known as Agent E that you mix with water and carry in a small tank as a backpack. The delivery system channels the solution in the tank through clear tubing to the tube attachment on the end of a leaf blower. Turn on the blower, move a little switch, and you're in business.
You are probably thinking that this sounds as if it works like a fogger. Not so. By making use of the strong force of air that comes out of the blower, the solution is dispersed in a controlled spray and you can direct it very accurately just where you want it. This is helpful in a couple of waysThere is no airborne mist for you to breathe in.
Better accuracy allows you to put the agent just where you want it and not where you don't.
The Mosquito 86 system can be purchased in several different models. If you already own a leaf blower, you can purchase the attachment that fits over 50 different leaf and lawn blowers. If you don't own a leaf blower, you can purchase a unit that contains both the blower and the appropriate attachment, either in electric or gas-powered models.
I tested the electric model, which I chose because they are generally lighter in weight. There is that matter of the electrical cord (not included), but for the areas where I will be using it, there are outlets within reach, using a 50-foot cord. We spend most of our leisure time in the area adjacent to the house, either on the patio, the deck, or the front porch. The unit itself weighs 6.6 pounds and comes with a two-year warranty.
The solution is provided in a concentrate and you mix it with water in the backpack tank. The active ingredient is permethrin* and it is effective not only on mosquitoes, but also ants, biting flies, fleas, and ticks. It is safe for use around pets and children, once the solution has dried. One application lasts a week and is recommended that you reapply it after a rain. It also kills bees if you spray it directly on them, it is advised that you don't apply it while they are actively feeding. Mosquitoes are generally most active at dusk and later, so that's the ideal time to apply.
Since permethrin* is toxic to cats, this is my only concern, although slight, because as you know, we have several of them here at Our Little Acre. But it's easy enough to keep them in until the spraying is done and dry. The concentration used with the Mosquito 86 system is not at a level known to be harmful to cats or other animals. As with any chemical, care must be taken to use it as directed and with respect, to avoid adverse effects.
I was pretty pleased with my Mosquito 86 and think it's an innovative idea for applying a mosquito-killing agent. As one who seemingly attracts these biting buggers, I now have an effective and easy method of keeping them away from our favorite yard hangouts. With West Nile Virus being reported in our area, mosquitoes do present a very real risk, so I welcome a control product such as this.
Read more:
http://ourlittleacre.blogspot.com/2008/10/mosquitoes-are-back-and-ive-got-just.html#ixzz3ccWixTxO
