Have a couple of small, shallow ponds at my camp in the boonies. Two dried up the last two years, killing off most of the dragonfly population. (Takes 'em two years underwater to mature.) We no longer have Combat Air Patrol, fine at our house though. So bad out there that bug spray doesn’t work even if you bathe in it. Never had issues before. Because I had dragonflies. I’m sure the 10" of snow, in Florida upset things just a tad. Fucking global warming.
Anyway, searched a bit and everyone wants to sell me a bug zapper. A) I don’t have power unless I run a genny. B) Those things are indiscriminate and we humans have nuked the insect population as is.
There has to be some way to attract them into a trap. I know they target mammalian CO2 exhalations, and to a lesser extent, warmth. Seems like there should be an easy way to suck the mindless beasts into a black hole. ?
Well that’s a plan! Haven’t had much luck planting out there though. Typical NW Florida soil, about 2-3" of topsoil, sand all the way to China.
You got me thinking on citronella though! Forgot about that.
Lemon Grass also. It should grow well there.
I grow a bunch and don’t really notice it keeping mosquitos away from the area. But I’ll pick some, crush it up in my hands, and rub it on myself and the cats. Works as good as most bug sprays without feeling like I need a shower after.
That sounds like a pain for growing conditions.
I use planters because I live in an apartment, but my mother in law uses those little kids pools full of soil to get around not having good soil to grow in. The pools seem to work really well, and she even customized how each soil can drain for different crops and flowers by cutting drain holes. I think she is also trying to grow rice in one of them that is more flooded. haha
I was curious and looked it up, English Lavender doesn’t really like to grow in Florida either because of the heat and humidity. But Spanish, French, Goodwin Creek grey and Phenominal lavender all grow well there. Which is now a fact I know. haha
Citronella is a pretty good alternative! I used to use the candles specifically for mosquitoes. The only problem I had with it is it also keeps other things away I don’t want to avoid like bees and such.