Effectiveness of Treatments to Reduce Mosquito Larvae in Rain Barrels
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 17, Issue 2 - December 2024
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
Rain barrels are a practice to help homeowners conserve water but may provide mosquito breeding habitats. Extension programs that provide barrels suggest treatments that reduce mosquito breeding opportunities, like screening barrel openings or using soap, oil, or Mosquito Dunks®. This project evaluated these various Extension-recommended treatments in simulated rain barrels. Each treatment reduced mosquito larvae by more than 99% compared to untreated buckets with open water. Issues arose during the study, such as oil going rancid, Mosquito Dunks® breaking apart, difficulty maintaining a soap or oil layer, and screens filtering debris, that homeowners should be aware of to make appropriate decisions when maintaining their rain barrels.
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