Mosquito Repeller

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

I walked by a big bin of these at the OSH store yesterday evening, and I
couldn't resist the temptation to buy one ($6.97) just for its
collectible value. It's a Lentek 'Mosquito Contro' which is a bit
bigger than a business card and about 3/8" (10mm) thick (not counting
the pocket clip), and uses two LR44 button cells for power. It has a "0
I II" switch and a "HI LOW" adjustment pot for 'fine tuning'.

I'm fully aware of this:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/02/lentek.htm

What I'm wondering is why, after almost two years, they are still
selling these in the stores. With the packaging that misrepresents that
these things actually work - says "repels mosquitos from your personal
space".

I can take the key chain off and use it for whatever. But the unit,
well, I guess I'll just tell people that this is just for grins.


--
@@F@r@o@m@@O@r@a@n@g@e@@C@o@u@n@t@y@,@@C@a@l@,@@w@h@e@r@e@@
###Got a Question about ELECTRONICS? Check HERE First:###
http://users.pandora.be/educypedia/electronics/databank.htm
My email address is whitelisted. *All* email sent to it
goes directly to the trash unless you add NOSPAM in the
Subject: line with other stuff. alondra101 <at> hotmail.com
Don't be ripped off by the big book dealers. Go to the URL
that will give you a choice and save you money(up to half).
http://www.everybookstore.com You'll be glad you did!
Just when you thought you had all this figured out, the gov't
changed it: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/binary.html
@@t@h@e@@a@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@m@e@e@t@@t@h@e@@E@f@f@l@u@e@n@t@@

 

[Rich Grise]

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 11:35:47 -0800, Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark
Remover" wrote:

I walked by a big bin of these at the OSH store yesterday evening, and I
couldn't resist the temptation to buy one ($6.97) just for its collectible
value. It's a Lentek 'Mosquito Contro' which is a bit bigger than a
business card and about 3/8" (10mm) thick (not counting the pocket clip),
and uses two LR44 button cells for power. It has a "0 I II" switch and a
"HI LOW" adjustment pot for 'fine tuning'.

I'm fully aware of this:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/02/lentek.htm

What I'm wondering is why, after almost two years, they are still selling
these in the stores. With the packaging that misrepresents that these
things actually work - says "repels mosquitos from your personal space".

I can take the key chain off and use it for whatever. But the unit, well,
I guess I'll just tell people that this is just for grins.

The FTC kinda wrecks their credibility with this blanket statement:
--------------
"...The proposed consent agreement announced today for public comment
would prohibit the respondents from representing that:

any air cleaning product will eliminate, remove, clear, clean,
neutralize, sanitize, oxidize, control, or reduce any indoor air
pollutant, or that use of such product will prevent, reduce the
incidence of, or provide relief from any medical or health-related
condition;..."
--------------
I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.

I guess it's been decided by the government that the only way to get
healthy indoor air is to ban smoking, and that dust mite feces,
bacteria/virus/fungus spores, outgassing construction materials, human
effluvia, and so on have nothing to do with it.

Stupid bureaucrats.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Neil O'Hara]

Rich Grise wrote:

The FTC kinda wrecks their credibility with this blanket statement:
--------------
"...The proposed consent agreement announced today for public comment
would prohibit the respondents from representing that:

any air cleaning product will eliminate, remove, clear, clean,
neutralize, sanitize, oxidize, control, or reduce any indoor air
pollutant, or that use of such product will prevent, reduce the
incidence of, or provide relief from any medical or health-related
condition;..."
--------------
I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.

If you read just a teensy bit farther, you'll find the rest of the sentence:

"unless these representations are supported by competent and reliable
scientific evidence."

You got a problem with that?

- Neil

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Rich Grise" <rich@example.net> wrote in message
newsan.2004.12.15.20.01.41.240241@example.net...

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 11:35:47 -0800, Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the
Dark
Remover" wrote:

I walked by a big bin of these at the OSH store yesterday evening,
and I
couldn't resist the temptation to buy one ($6.97) just for its
collectible
value. It's a Lentek 'Mosquito Contro' which is a bit bigger than a
business card and about 3/8" (10mm) thick (not counting the pocket
clip),
and uses two LR44 button cells for power. It has a "0 I II" switch
and a
"HI LOW" adjustment pot for 'fine tuning'.

I'm fully aware of this:
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/02/lentek.htm

What I'm wondering is why, after almost two years, they are still
selling
these in the stores. With the packaging that misrepresents that
these
things actually work - says "repels mosquitos from your personal
space".

I can take the key chain off and use it for whatever. But the unit,
well,
I guess I'll just tell people that this is just for grins.

The FTC kinda wrecks their credibility with this blanket statement:
--------------
"...The proposed consent agreement announced today for public comment
would prohibit the respondents from representing that:

any air cleaning product will eliminate, remove, clear, clean,
neutralize, sanitize, oxidize, control, or reduce any indoor air
pollutant, or that use of such product will prevent, reduce the
incidence of, or provide relief from any medical or health-related
condition;..."
--------------
I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the
money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.

I guess it's been decided by the government that the only way to get
healthy indoor air is to ban smoking, and that dust mite feces,
bacteria/virus/fungus spores, outgassing construction materials, human
effluvia, and so on have nothing to do with it.

You are the one who's taking it out of context. They said, " would
prohibit the respondents from representing that:" which means this only
appliers to the respondents, i.e. Lentek International, Inc., Joseph
Durek, a former Lentek principal, and Lou Lentine, a current principal.

You're just on one of your tirades.

Stupid bureaucrats.

Cheers!
Rich

 

[Chuck Harris]

Paul Burridge wrote:

Do you actually get much of a problem with mosquitoes in the US? I'd
always thought of them as most associated with the tropics...

We are getting more and more problem all the time. The Greenies have
decided that we need to sprout up "wetlands" everywhere new construction
happens. To do this, they force developers to put in elaborate holding
ponds/swamps for storm water runoff. These ponds/swamps are the perfect
breeding ground for mosquitoes.

In other areas, they have increased the amount of wetlands by raising
the drainage culverts for driveways and small roads 6 inches, or so,
above the ditch bottoms. This is supposedly to slow down the runoff,
and make mini drainage ponds that allow the storm water to soak in.
What actually happens is mini swamps that harbor mosquitoes are formed.

In Virginia, a small outbreak of malaria was recently reported. The
vector is believed to be a small group of illegals from Mexico that
were found to harbor the disease. They were working as landscapers
on a mosquito ridden island, and infected the local crop of mosquitoes.

All through the East Coast, West Nile disease is starting to flourish.
Crows, which are very vulnerable to the disease, are dropping from the
sky. I have several friends who have contracted the West Nile disease.
It wiped out about 4-6 months of their lives while they combated
extreme fatigue and bouts of confusion.

Since DDT is banned worldwide, and there is nothing as safe or effective
to use as a substitute, it is just a matter of time before the US has
problems with yellow fever.

But that really doesn't matter, because the little duckies have a place
to swim.

-Chuck Harris

 

[repatch]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 14:47:42 +0000, Paul Burridge wrote:

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:49:55 GMT, Rich Grise <rich@example.net> wrote:

I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.

I guess it's been decided by the government that the only way to get
healthy indoor air is to ban smoking, and that dust mite feces,
bacteria/virus/fungus spores, outgassing construction materials, human
effluvia, and so on have nothing to do with it.

Do you actually get much of a problem with mosquitoes in the US? I'd
always thought of them as most associated with the tropics...

Most definitely not. We have mosquitoes up here in Canada, along with
another nasty bugs (black flies, I think the northern states also have
those). TTYL

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Neil O'Hara" <neil@ohec.com> wrote in message
news:10s1mjgr2lb7lf4@corp.supernews.com...

Rich Grise wrote:

The FTC kinda wrecks their credibility with this blanket statement:
--------------
"...The proposed consent agreement announced today for public
comment
would prohibit the respondents from representing that:

any air cleaning product will eliminate, remove, clear, clean,
neutralize, sanitize, oxidize, control, or reduce any indoor air
pollutant, or that use of such product will prevent, reduce the
incidence of, or provide relief from any medical or
health-related
condition;..."
--------------
I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the
money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.



If you read just a teensy bit farther, you'll find the rest of the
sentence:

"unless these representations are supported by competent and reliable
scientific evidence."

You got a problem with that?

- Neil

Maybe you oughtta give him a break, after all, he's on one of his
occasional tirades. Humor him..

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Paul Burridge" <pb@notthisbit.osiris1.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bu73s0pihum5e1stvrom6e32va47hn8v1j@4ax.com...

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:49:55 GMT, Rich Grise <rich@example.net> wrote:

I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the
money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.

I guess it's been decided by the government that the only way to get
healthy indoor air is to ban smoking, and that dust mite feces,
bacteria/virus/fungus spores, outgassing construction materials,
human
effluvia, and so on have nothing to do with it.

Do you actually get much of a problem with mosquitoes in the US? I'd
always thought of them as most associated with the tropics...
--

Well, some parts of the U.S. are _in_ the tropics. Like Hawaii,
Florida, etc.

But here in So. Calif, there's an occasional death from West Nile virus,
and there are some areas with skeeters along areas where there's
stagnant water, like wetlands. As some of the areas where wetlands once
were are reestablished, it would seem that the skeeter problem will get
worse. But it's not much of a problem.

But I started off this thread with a discussion of mosquito repellers,
their efficaccy, and this company, not mosquitoes in general. Ans why
am I able to buy one of these almost two years after this company agrees
to stop misrepresenting their products as capable of repelling skeeters.

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/02/lentek.htm

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 10:57:23 -0800, "Watson A.Name - \"Watt Sun, the
Dark Remover\"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote:

[snip]

You make some valid points, but it should not be implied that because of
the diseases, we should wipe out the habitats of other animals. After
all, wiping out the disease itself, or its vector, the mosquito, is
really the solution. DDT did wonders for eradicating malaria and those
fevers in africa, but we all know that when it got into the food chain,
it did serious damage. So perhaps it's better to use something like
this (see URL below) to catch the skeeters, instead.

Wow, 176 species of skeeters in the U.S.! Read the last paragraph for a
quick summary of the methods used to control skeeters.

http://www.mosquito.org/MosqInfo/Traps.htm

The problem we have in Arizona... it rained once upon a time and made
a mudhole... and, as is common to the desert, the mudhole sprouted
toads.

Then the DUMBSHIT GREENHEADS got it declared a wetlands by the Clinton
administration, and we now have to keep adding water to the mudhole to
keep it wet.

So we have mosquitos in the desert :-(

I think the cure for mosquitos is to treat DUMBSHIT GREENHEADS with
massive doses of Dioxin ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[Chuck Harris]

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

But that really doesn't matter, because the little duckies have a

place

to swim.

-Chuck Harris


You make some valid points, but it should not be implied that because of
the diseases, we should wipe out the habitats of other animals. After
all, wiping out the disease itself, or its vector, the mosquito, is
really the solution. DDT did wonders for eradicating malaria and those
fevers in africa, but we all know that when it got into the food chain,
it did serious damage. So perhaps it's better to use something like
this (see URL below) to catch the skeeters, instead.

Wow, 176 species of skeeters in the U.S.! Read the last paragraph for a
quick summary of the methods used to control skeeters.

http://www.mosquito.org/MosqInfo/Traps.htm

The problem with the mosquito traps is the only thing they can
effectively trap is your money. Every study of the traps has shown
that there are way more mosquitoes than the traps will ever catch.

DDT is an example of a clusterfob of major order, every bad thing it
was said to have done has been proven to be wrong.

Look at:

http://www.junkscience.com/ddtfaq.htm

You might find it interesting.

-Chuck Harris

 

[Anthony Fremont]

"Chuck Harris" <cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote in message

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

You make some valid points, but it should not be implied that
because of
the diseases, we should wipe out the habitats of other animals.
After
all, wiping out the disease itself, or its vector, the mosquito, is
really the solution. DDT did wonders for eradicating malaria and
those
fevers in africa, but we all know that when it got into the food
chain,
it did serious damage. So perhaps it's better to use something like
this (see URL below) to catch the skeeters, instead.

Wow, 176 species of skeeters in the U.S.! Read the last paragraph
for a
quick summary of the methods used to control skeeters.

http://www.mosquito.org/MosqInfo/Traps.htm

The problem with the mosquito traps is the only thing they can
effectively trap is your money. Every study of the traps has shown
that there are way more mosquitoes than the traps will ever catch.

The answer to mosquito problems if you live in N America is to put up
Purple Martin houses. Now that's a mosquito trap. ;-) Of course you
can easily find information on the net lumping that in with the
ultrasonic repellers. I can only offer anecdotal evidence that they do
indeed work. One only needs to watch flocks of them feeding in the
early evening hours to know that they are packing mosquitos away.

It may be true that martins will eat other insects, but it certainly
appears to me that mosquitos are their food of choice.

DDT is an example of a clusterfob of major order, every bad thing it
was said to have done has been proven to be wrong.

Look at:

http://www.junkscience.com/ddtfaq.htm

You might find it interesting.

<RANT>I'd have to say that I'm far more afraid that my doctor will
prescribe some brand new pill for me than I am about DDT. No matter how
trivial the condition treated, it seems that every "modern" medicine is
sure to cause liver damage and now it seems like heart damage is popular
as well, not to mention the repressed imune systems response. Surely
this all has nothing to do with patents, it just must be that all better
medicines need to be made from ever larger and larger molecules that the
human body can't possibly safely metabolize.</RANT>

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Jim Thompson" <thegreatone@example.com> wrote in message
news:tmm3s0t0sjgg48dc3telna459rqin9qhhc@4ax.com...

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 10:57:23 -0800, "Watson A.Name - \"Watt Sun, the
Dark Remover\"" <NOSPAM@dslextreme.com> wrote:

[snip]

You make some valid points, but it should not be implied that because
of
the diseases, we should wipe out the habitats of other animals.
After
all, wiping out the disease itself, or its vector, the mosquito, is
really the solution. DDT did wonders for eradicating malaria and
those
fevers in africa, but we all know that when it got into the food
chain,
it did serious damage. So perhaps it's better to use something like
this (see URL below) to catch the skeeters, instead.

Wow, 176 species of skeeters in the U.S.! Read the last paragraph
for a
quick summary of the methods used to control skeeters.

http://www.mosquito.org/MosqInfo/Traps.htm


The problem we have in Arizona... it rained once upon a time and made
a mudhole... and, as is common to the desert, the mudhole sprouted
toads.

Then the DUMBSHIT GREENHEADS got it declared a wetlands by the Clinton
administration, and we now have to keep adding water to the mudhole to
keep it wet.

So we have mosquitos in the desert :-(

I think the cure for mosquitos is to treat DUMBSHIT GREENHEADS with
massive doses of Dioxin ;-)

...Jim Thompson
--

Good point. But the 'greenheads' aren't so dumbshit, they're pretty
smart; they're using (or abusing) the system to their advantage. You're
being over-reactionary, they're no different from you. They just want
to take advantage when they can. ;-)

So what you need is a law that says that if they are trying to replace
drylands with wetlands, they are the ones that are 'screwing up' the
environment.

 

[rick etter]

"Paul Burridge" <pb@notthisbit.osiris1.co.uk> wrote in message
news:bu73s0pihum5e1stvrom6e32va47hn8v1j@4ax.com...

On Wed, 15 Dec 2004 20:49:55 GMT, Rich Grise <rich@example.net> wrote:

I suppose the entire HVAC industry will have to refund all of the money
for all of those filters and electrostatic precipitators and ozone
generators that people have paid so handsomely for, that the FTC has
declared by fiat, don't work.

I guess it's been decided by the government that the only way to get
healthy indoor air is to ban smoking, and that dust mite feces,
bacteria/virus/fungus spores, outgassing construction materials, human
effluvia, and so on have nothing to do with it.

Do you actually get much of a problem with mosquitoes in the US? I'd
always thought of them as most associated with the tropics...
===========================

US, and even further north. When the big hatch starts up north I don't
think the tropics can even compare. The waves of skeets are like clouds.
They are that dense and that numerous.

--

"What is now proved was once only imagin'd." - William Blake, 1793.

 

[Watson A.Name - \"Watt Su]

"Chuck Harris" <cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote in message
news:YcmdnU9lk8r6kF_cRVn-ow@rcn.net...

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:


But that really doesn't matter, because the little duckies have a

place

to swim.

-Chuck Harris


You make some valid points, but it should not be implied that
because of
the diseases, we should wipe out the habitats of other animals.
After
all, wiping out the disease itself, or its vector, the mosquito, is
really the solution. DDT did wonders for eradicating malaria and
those
fevers in africa, but we all know that when it got into the food
chain,
it did serious damage. So perhaps it's better to use something like
this (see URL below) to catch the skeeters, instead.

Wow, 176 species of skeeters in the U.S.! Read the last paragraph
for a
quick summary of the methods used to control skeeters.

http://www.mosquito.org/MosqInfo/Traps.htm

The problem with the mosquito traps is the only thing they can
effectively trap is your money. Every study of the traps has shown
that there are way more mosquitoes than the traps will ever catch.

DDT is an example of a clusterfob of major order, every bad thing it
was said to have done has been proven to be wrong.

Look at:

http://www.junkscience.com/ddtfaq.htm

You might find it interesting.

Interesting, but they failed to mention some species, notably the
condor, so I'd say that they are definitely biased. Good journalism
gives fair treatment to all sides.

> -Chuck Harris

 

[Chuck Harris]

Watson A.Name - "Watt Sun, the Dark Remover" wrote:

DDT is an example of a clusterfob of major order, every bad thing it
was said to have done has been proven to be wrong.

Look at:

http://www.junkscience.com/ddtfaq.htm

You might find it interesting.


Interesting, but they failed to mention some species, notably the
condor, so I'd say that they are definitely biased. Good journalism
gives fair treatment to all sides.


-Chuck Harris

There is more than enough junk out there that is biased against
DDT. This guy's point was that the studies presented by the EPA
as reason to ban DDT did not support the conclusions the EPA said
they did. The EPA lied.

Ruckelshaus was just plain going to save us from DDT, and that was that!

The most interesting point is the conclusion that DDT was banned
because the world wasn't willing to support the population boost
removing mosquito born illnesses would cause in the third world
countries.

-Chuck Harris

 

[Chuck Harris]

Jim Thompson wrote:

Anyone know about those devices that generate a CO2 fog, attracting
the mosquitos and then "vacuums" them into a trap?

...Jim Thompson

Every study I have seen says they work, but not well enough to make
a dent in the mosquito population. And because they attract mosquitoes,
you don't want to be anywhere near the traps.

As another poster said, purple martins are more effective.

-Chuck Harris

 

[Cyli]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:50:54 -0500, Chuck Harris
<cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote:
(slightly snipped)

Jim Thompson wrote:
Anyone know about those devices that generate a CO2 fog, attracting
the mosquitos and then "vacuums" them into a trap?

Every study I have seen says they work, but not well enough to make
a dent in the mosquito population. And because they attract mosquitoes,
you don't want to be anywhere near the traps.

I've read that they're supposed to be used for a couple of days before

you really need them. If you're having the neighborhood barbeque, you
want them up a good two to three days or more in advance. You want
them at the opposite end of the property from where you're going to
have the humans. I think it was 50 feet or more.

Not up there in ideal for camping unless you manage to convince
someone three sites down that you're doing them a favour by letting
them use it. Not good for anything but RV camping (or if you've got a
really big vehicle for car camping. It's not backpacking gear...

Cyli
r.bc: vixen. Minnow goddess. Speaker to squirrels.
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli
email: cyli@gmail.com.invalid (strip the .invalid to email)

 

[Jim Thompson]

On Thu, 16 Dec 2004 21:50:54 -0500, Chuck Harris
<cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote:

Jim Thompson wrote:
Anyone know about those devices that generate a CO2 fog, attracting
the mosquitos and then "vacuums" them into a trap?

...Jim Thompson

Every study I have seen says they work, but not well enough to make
a dent in the mosquito population. And because they attract mosquitoes,
you don't want to be anywhere near the traps.

As another poster said, purple martins are more effective.

-Chuck Harris

How about bats? The preserve behind my house has a large bat
population.

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, P.E. | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona Voice480)460-2350 | |
| E-mail Address at Website Fax480)460-2142 | Brass Rat |
| http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

 

[rick etter]

"Chuck Harris" <cf-NO-SPAM-harris@erols.com> wrote in message
news:-I2dnR5RMJnep17cRVn-gw@rcn.net...

Jim Thompson wrote:


As another poster said, purple martins are more effective.

-Chuck Harris


How about bats? The preserve behind my house has a large bat
population.

...Jim Thompson


No, I think purple martins only eat mosquitoes ;-)

-Chuck Harris
=======

"...While bats and purple martins are excellent insect eaters, their effect
against mosquitoes is minimal. They spend a large amount of the time feeding
on larger insects, like moths and beetles. Whipporwills and poor-wills are
nighttime birds that do eat a tremendous number of mosquitos, eating more in
one night than a purple martin does in a lifetime..."
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/mosquito.html

 

[Anthony Fremont]

"rick etter" <stop@stop.net> wrote in message news:5TJwd.2174

"...While bats and purple martins are excellent insect eaters, their
effect
against mosquitoes is minimal. They spend a large amount of the time
feeding
on larger insects, like moths and beetles. Whipporwills and poor-wills
are
nighttime birds that do eat a tremendous number of mosquitos, eating
more in
one night than a purple martin does in a lifetime..."
http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/gaston/Pests/mosquito.html

That's sure enough what it says, but I think that statement speaks for
itself. A "lifetime"..... I somehow find that hard to believe. I live
on the banks of a south texas bayou, believe me when I say that I'm glad
that I regularly see many scores of martins flitting overhead right
after the sun drops over the horizon. They're eating something, and I'm
quite sure that I know what is the most plentiful bug around my
backyard.

I would agree that the single most effective way to control mosquitoes
is to ruin their breeding grounds wherever possible.