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Mosquitoes got you itching? Browse around here for some remedies. We have reviews of different mosquito traps and an educational resource about mosquitoes, and what you can do to avoid being bitten.

From their irritating whine to their sting and itch of their bite, the mosquito
is at the bottom of human kind's list of favorite creatures. As new information
emerges about the diseases they carry, their growing resistance to insecticides,
and their increasing numbers, the mosquito, once nothing more than a summer annoyance,
is capturing headlines worldwide.

Until recently, pesticides were commonly used to combat mosquitoes. Improper use
of pesticides can cause health problems, including eye, skin and throat irritation,
muscle spasms and neurological disorders and even death. Long term exposure to
some pesticides have been linked to certain types of cancers.

In the 1980s, real progress in eliminating large numbers of mosquitoes without
toxic chemicals was finally made. This breakthrough was made by British scientists
who were trying to discover a way to control disease-carrying Tsetse flies that
were infecting cows. They discovered a product that mimicked cow's breath called
Octenol. CO2 and Octenol later became apparent as the two most powerful attractants
of Tsetse flies as well as mosquitoes. Currently, research shows that mosquitoes
are attracted to animals (including birds, dogs and humans) by:

Sound: There is some evidence to suggest that mosquitoes can sense animal heartbeats.
The Sonic Web TM is the only machine to use this lure. It has not been shown to
be very effective against mosquitoes. See test 2 on the home page.

Scent: Octenol and CO2 are components of animal breath and attract mosquitoes up
to a distance of 150 feet. Octenol however does not attract some species. Various
companies claim that Lactic Acid is effective in attracting Asian Tiger mosquitoes,
but there is no evidence to support that claim.

Movement: From a distance of around 30 feet, mosquitoes can perceive movement and
objects differing in color from the background. As a mosquito approaches, following
the scent, it senses movement and targets its prey. The Mega-Catch TM models appear
to move to the mosquito due to flashing lights.

Moisture: Animals perspire which can be sensed by mosquitoes that are in proximity.
The Mega-Catch TM and machines that use propane also uses a wet trap that give off
moisture.

Heat: Animals are usually warmer than their surroundings. Receptors on the mosquito's
antenna help locate warmer areas from a distance of 10 feet, more if it is humid.
The Sonic Web TM, machines burning propane and the Mega-Catch TM give off some heat
as a final lure.
 

All effective products use some of these to attract biting insects, then trap them. Also note that many products on the market do not work. We do not list Lentek products here because of a Federal Trade Commission claim against them.  The Sonic Web and the Flowtron have not performed well in the tests.