DETROIT – I’m sure we can all agree that mosquitoes are annoying little creatures that just make our lives itchy and miserable. Okay, that’s not all they do.
I went on a mission to bash the existence of mosquitoes and prove that they have no other purpose than to spread misery. I was disappointed to learn that mosquitoes serve as a food source for fish and other wildlife. However, that is not their only purpose, they also act as pollinators.
According to the USDA, there is a species of mosquito known as snow pond mosquitoes that are found in deep snow pools at high elevations throughout much of the northern United States. These mosquitoes play an important role in pollinating orchids. They are most commonly found in New York and Pennsylvania. Researchers believe that many mosquitoes around the world pollinate smaller flowers that grow in wetter environments.
Let’s put the benefits aside for a moment and get back to the point: mosquitoes are horrible and we don’t want them breeding in the environment where we live. That’s why I put a mosquito bucket in my garden ☠️🦟. Honestly, this is one of the easiest ways to get revenge on these blood-sucking freaks. All you need is a bucket, water, and some mosquito spray. You can buy mosquito spray at your local hardware store or most online retailers.
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Combine these three things (throw in some grass clippings if you like) and you’ve created the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. do not worryit just seems perfect to them. Mosquitoes will think the bucket of water looks great, but it is a trap. The larvae will eat the Bti spores and die before they can become adult mosquitoes. Just make sure to refresh your bucket monthly.
You may be wondering what a mosquito dump is. They contain Bti, a bacteria that occurs naturally in soil and has been used to control mosquito populations for over 30 years. You can place mosquito dumps anywhere there is standing water, not just in buckets of doom. Bti kills mosquitoes, black flies, and fungus gnat larvae. Bti does not kill mosquito pupae or adults. According to the CDC and EPA, Bti is not toxic to humans and is not believed to harm pets, other animals, aquatic life, or other insects.
Do I still have your attention? If you’re still here, there are six mosquito-borne diseases, also known as arboviruses, that I want you to be at least vaguely familiar with. Those arboviruses are Jamestown Canyon Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, West Nile virus, Zika virus, Dengue, and Chikungunya.
One more thing, there is a species of mosquito known as the Asian tiger mosquito. It is an aggressive biter. They are not native to Michigan because they cannot survive our harsh winters, but climate change is pushing them further north. They have populations in Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana. They travel to Michigan in products shipped from states with established populations.
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