Here are the steps to a healthier, and a mosquito free environment at home or at the office.

1. Put some water in a white dinner plate (small preferably.)

2. Add a couple drops of Lemon flavored Dishwashing Liquid.

3. Set the dish on your porch, patio, picnic table, park bench, or other outdoor area.

Not sure what attracts them, the lemon smell, the white plate color, or what,...BUT ... mosquitoes flock to it, and drop deadshortly after drinking the Lemon liquid & water mixture, and usually within about 10 feet of the plate.
-- laurepauree, Feb 14 2008

The soapy water plate story http://www.snopes.c...dwives/dishsoap.asp
It doesn't help. And it tastes like soap. So I've heard. [Amos Kito, Feb 14 2008]

Cool (+), we used to make overly sweet lemonade to kill yellow jackets, but I hate mosquitos even more. I will be testing this.
-- MisterQED, Feb 14 2008


[Link] says this has been circulating for about 8 years. It might keep them from hatching in your dish, but that's about it.

It also mentions the jugs of water to keep dogs out of your yard, but not the most effective way to do it:
Place a plastic gallon milk jug of water at each corner of the lawn. When neighbors ask (and they will), you say sternly, "It's to keep the g*ddamn dogs off my yard!" Some people swear it works like a charm.
-- Amos Kito, Feb 14 2008


Sorry, [laurepauree], this isn't how the HB works. Original ideas, please, not copies of e-mail nonsense.

Even then, folks are going to be critical of writing, spelling and grammar errors. And that's in addition to hacking apart the logic and science of the idea.

For instance: What makes this work? Have you tested it? This is bad science. This, if it worked, would prevent malaria, West Nile and a host of other mosquito-borne diseases--why just mention Dengue? Lemon FLAVORED? Mosquitoes in the office?
-- baconbrain, Feb 14 2008


Whoa Baco. I agree it's a recycled old- wives' tale that's done the rounds, but maybe it was posted in good faith by someone who isn't yet familiar with the site (and who should have read the help file). The spelling and grammer aren't that bad. And depending on where you live, mosquitoes may be a problem at the office. I just thought you were a tad rough on a newbie, who perhaps can be more gently coerced into seeing the error of her ways. Let's face it, with old gits like me around, we could use some fresh faces. Welcome, Laurepauree; tip: if you'd posted lemon-scented custard, it would have gone down better.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 14 2008


Sorry, [MaxB], I was rough. I'll endeavor to be more kind. Thanks for watching out for folks.

In excuse, I have worked in Indonesia where mosquitoes, dengue and malaria were a serious problems. Here in the U.S., my mother nearly died of West Nile. I tend to over-react to nonsense about mosquitoes.

[laurepauree], welcome to the Halfbakery. Stick around, it's a lot of fun.
-- baconbrain, Feb 14 2008


That's better. And [laure], now that [bacon] has been nice, you'd better stick around or we'll want to know why.
-- MaxwellBuchanan, Feb 14 2008


I think this falls in line with the "old wives tale" of hanging clear glass jugs filled with water near the door to keep flies away...they say the multi-facet fly eye can't stnad the distortion of the light through the bottles...I tried it, found out it was utter nonsense. Yes, I felt stupid...but, it was worth the try and cost me nothing.

As a licensed mosquito eradicator in my past working life, I can tell you, lemon juice will not kill mossies...not effectively, at least. Mosquitos are highly evolved reproduction machines with unbelievably sophisticated sensory organs on their bodies. They can detect exhaled CO2 from hundreds of feet away....they are attracted by salt, amonia and blood to name just a few things warm and cold blooded creatures exude. They can detect body heat from tens of feet away. The female must have a blood meal to reproduce. Although some people say they have had success with the "sonic" repellers, I tested several name brand models under near perfect conditions and found none of them to have the slightest effect on mosquitos. I have also tested citronella torches and candels and found them to have very little if any effect in driving mosquitos away.

Fogging and poisons work momentarily...but as soon as it dissipates, the survivors come back more plentiful and stronger if there are no screen or net barriers.

The best mosquito killer I ever found was the CO2 (butane burner) and ultra violet traps. I have also used sticky traps with a good blood/dilute ammonia mix lure. There are also feromone traps and sound traps that mimic the "buzzing" sound of the female wing beat, but they tend to be a bit expensive. Such lures, though, can be counter productive, attracting every mosquito for hundreds of feet around...and they don't kill every mosquito that comes near.

I have found dead birds, rats and even puppies that were totally drained by massive mosquito infestations.

The very best protection is an excellent community management program, with draining standing water, removal of scrap tire piles, introducing ponds with gambusia fish, and proper community spraying and vector control and community education on how to water house plants and gardens...and for goodness sake, don't keep bird baths in your yard.
-- Blisterbob, Feb 15 2008



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