$10 Mosquito Hack Keeps Summer Evenings Enjoyable
Florida is the 2nd most mosquito-y state, behind only Louisiana. And with news of malaria making recent headlines, there’s been a stepped-up effort to get rid of them. But professional services are expensive, citronella candles don’t stand a chance against Florida’s bowed-up biters, and nobody wants to spray repellent every time they step outside.
Enter the Mosquito Dunk — a $10 hack that shuts mosquitos down before they even get started.
Using a Mosquito Dunk is simple enough: Fill a bucket with water, put it in your back yard and drop one in. The disk dissolves in water, releasing a bacteria that kills mosquito larvae but is totally safe for humans, pets and wildlife.
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so the bucket of water does two things: 1) Lures mosquitoes to lay their eggs, then 2) Kills the larvae before they become mosquitoes.
The name of the bacteria is Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis, aka Bti. It occurs naturally in soil, and contains spores that affect only the larvae of mosquitoes, blackflies and fungus gnats.
Bti is safe for use in organic gardening. Its toxins do not affect other insects like caterpillars, butterflies and honey bees. Buzz off, mosquitoes!
