Mosquito Traps in Canberra?

Thanks Russ. The sort I am looking at use CO2 from the bottle rather than generating CO2 from LPG. They also use a variety of other attractants to draw the suckers to their deaths, I’d really like to hear from a local who has first hand knowledge of them. I’ve been in touch with the suppliers for local references, but unbiased opinions are what I’m after.

Grail said :

But for $1000 up front and $30/month, you’re really looking at top quality fleecing from a well practised con artist.

What he said. A quick google shows 1k will get you a gas powered bug zapper that will kill them within a 1 acre radius (a whole neighbourhood). $500 will get you a smaller gas powered one (1/2 acre), and $300 will get you an electric one. Even then, you’ll need to get CO2 gas canisters.

If i was you, i would focus on the source, rather than trying to irradiate them. Flip any containers upside down, position tarps so they don’t pool water. Get your neighbours to do the same so you don’t get eaten alive?

When we have outdoor events, we put a citronella candle in a small bucket (stops it from blowing out), then put them in the entertaining area.

Grail said :

For $1000 you’ll get yourself a pretty nice bug zapper (the blue lights with the electrified mesh screen).

UV light does nothing for attracting mozzies – all you’ll get is a fried assortment of weird-looking flying bugs you never realised existed.

The good mozzie controllers (that actually work) use CO2, heat and a pheromone – the first two are generated by burning LPG from a barbecue gas bottle.

I’ve got plenty of mulched gardens and undergrowth and I agree that this is where my mozzies wait out the day before mounting an assault in the evening. I’ve been through many citronella candles and have tried all other smoke producing deterrents. The only variety that appears to work to any noticeable degree are the Mortein mozzie lanterns, but once you’re out of a 2 metre radius, watch out! (I also don’t like the thought of breathing in the toxic smoke produced).

Mozzies love mulch and undergrowth. That is the usual source around Canberra.

paulmc999 said :

Certainly Queensland seems to be mozzie ground zero and almost all of the trap testimonials I have read are from Queenslanders, so I accept my battles are small in comparison! That said, I do take care in dealing with all standing water around my house and I cannot blame the neighbours as I live on a bush block out of town. I cannot believe that I’m the only one with mozzies in the Canberra region though!

Certainly Queensland seems to be mozzie ground zero and almost all of the trap testimonials I have read are from Queenslanders, so I accept my battles are small in comparison! That said, I do take care in dealing with all standing water around my house and I cannot blame the neighbours as I live on a bush block out of town. I cannot believe that I’m the only one with mozzies in the Canberra region though!

For $30/month you could get yourself a decent supply of citronella candles. For $1000 you’ll get yourself a pretty nice bug zapper (the blue lights with the electrified mesh screen).

But for $1000 up front and $30/month, you’re really looking at top quality fleecing from a well practised con artist.

As Gungahlin Al said, if you have a major mosquito problem at this time of year, it’s likely that you have an open, still body of water around the place somewhere.

I have no idea about the traps, but planting roman wormwood and a can or aero guard seem to work ok.

Plenty of mossies in the areas I’ve been of an evening, except Civic or Manuka, I guess. I wish they were easier to get rid of! The traps involve the generation of carbon dioxide, apparently, which is why they’re so expensive and tricky. I have sealed all the gaps in my Stegbar windows instead, as they were getting in around the screens, but that doesn’t help if you want to sit outside.

One of the things this Queenslander loves about Canberra is being able to stay outside at night with zero mossies mauling me.

Therefore I’d suggest that if you have a mossie problem, it is very localised. The small black buggers are the sort that really don’t travel far at all, and therefore are most likely to be coming from blocked gutters, bowls, potplant saucers in either yours or a neighbour’s yard. Or an unsealed rainwater tank or pond with no fish in it.

So perhaps try to treat the disease rather than the symptom?