Have heard from two independant sources that the higher the porch or deck is off of the local mosquito breeding ground, the less you will have.
Is this just a Suburban Legend or some basis in fact??
If it real, is there some magic height or is it just a linear thing, eg higher the better (for mosquitos that is)?
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Replies
My deck is about 10 feet above ground and I get way fewer skeeters at deck level than ground level. I'm in southeastern PA on a wooded lot near a stream. Still get lots of moths and other bugs attracted by light on the deck, but not many mosquitoes.
It is true that the little buggers generally stay within a few feet of the ground. It is also true that the higher the deck is the less wind is blocked by low lying vegetation, more air movement equals less of the little blood suckers.
Just from my experience I have to say not true.
Every evening while doing my roof approx 14-15' from ground level, I was attacked by mosquito's.
I swear it was their intent to have me fall off.
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WWPD
I swear it was their intent to have me fall off
Yeah, well, that's because they're Florida skeeters, not the paltry, miniscule things that survive all that snow up in MA . . . <g>
Those shore line, long hot humid, years-n-years of bread in ideal conditions, sparrow-sized mosters are a bit different from those in northern climes (barring only Alaska, where they only get a few weeks to feed, and have to be able to feed off of beras, seals, moose and the like <shudder>).
Now, midges--those, the folks have up to the NE, and in spades, and they can clean keep them, too <different shudder>.
Makes me marvel, just the least bit, to see operatble windows without screens on them. But, that's a personal bias of some sort; same as how almost very pool in Florida has a "pool house" over it ('cause y'hafta).Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Just in case anyone needs a reason to hate me, here's one:
We normally leave our patio screen door open. 1 Floor slab on grade ranch. We get an occasional fly and moth buzzing around, but no mosquitoes!
I would know too - I'm the first one they will bite.Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CA
Also a CRX fanatic!
Screws the lid on that theory!
Capn
Yeah, well, that's because they're Florida skeeters, not the paltry, miniscule things that survive all that snow up in MA . . . <g>
Thats funny cause when I lived in Texas the locals that had never been out of the state didnt believe me when I said the mosquitoes were worse up north - They figured that the cold would kill them all off and they wouldnt have a chance to get big!
Couldnt make them believe it.
Doug
The mosquitos in Minnesota often could be seen with 2 or 3 wood ticks hanging off their necks......
I said the mosquitoes were worse up north
Well, having been to the NE, and to LaMarque & Deere Park in August--I know which area I'd worry about more <g> . . . Occupational hazard of my occupation not being around (sorry Bubba)
Can only comment on personal observations with Delaware skeeters.
We used to live in the city and our entire back yard was a deck - good nieghbor fence surrounded the entire deck to roughly 5' above decking. Back yard had a slight slope so the deck elevation varied from roughly 1' to 3' above grade. Roughly 13' above the level of the deck was a 2nd floor porch.
Some evenings the skeeters would be drive us off the "back yard" deck and we would retreat to the 2nd floor porch and find nary a skeeter. So what is that......magic hieght for DE skeeters = 14' to 16' above grade. I formulated the theory that skeeters are lousy fliers and don't want to risk falling too far. 'Course it might have something to do with the greater probability of available warm blood lower to the ground. If I were a female skeeter looking for blood - I'd be looking at elevations below 6', get much above that things thin out fast. You know it's only the females that bite, right?
Jim
Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.
I have a friend who does rural water development in Asia. He and his family lived a year in India once where the mosquitos were terrible. They rented an 8th floor apartment and it was bearable up there.
Bill
It's a fact ... sorta.
The real answer is it isn't the height, it is the increased air movement. Which , generally speaking, increases when you get higher up . Especially in an urban area where fences, plants etc all work to create still pockets of air that the mosquitoes will tend to stay in.
On an evening with a very gentle breeze you will notice more skeeters on the lee side of a structure then the side facing the breeze.
Elevation plays a role, too. In Asheville, once you got above 2500' or so there were almost none. Friends at lower elevation had them horribly, while we never saw any. Same trees, no standing water, etc. We made up for it in wasps, but that's another story...
12 foot deck, light breeze, = fewer skeeters, of course up here skeeter season is shorter than in southern climes. We keep an electronic zapper on the lower deck while we are up on the upper deck, it's only on when we are outside. skeeters are attracted to carbon dioxide, the light breeze helps dissipate that.WW
Next time, Anchor upwind of the island. lol, Jim
It depends.
If you have no tall trees near the house than being elevated will mean less misquitos.
If you have trees near your house the misquitos hanging out on the undersides of the tree leaves will see you and attack.
Try building a bat house. It worked for me.