Bromeliads and mosquitos

[Ellsworth Lund]

I'm concerned that my bromeliads will provide places for mosquitos to breed. Does anyone have any ideas about how to handle this?

I have purchased dunks, but using them for bromeliads isn't very convenient, and I think it might not be effective, either.

I saw a product that claims to reduce the surface tension of water so that mosquitos can't land on the surface to lay their eggs, but I think it would be too expensive to use for watering the bromeliads regularly. It claims to be made of (unnamed) ordinary household products. Does soap reduce surface tension? Maybe I could add small amounts of soap or detergent to the water? Any ideas, anyone?

Ells

[Toni]

I have zillions of bromies and have never seen larvae in the cups. They do get hit with irrigation water every few days which keeps the water refreshed and not stagnant. Plus maybe the eggs get eaten by anoles or something? At any rate it's never been a problem, and I'm in mosquito territory for sure and have had outdoor bromies for decades.

[Phisherman]

Check the plants twice a week. If you see the oily black egg rafts, remove them or add a small piece of the dunk you purchased. Mosquitoes prefer dirty stagnant water to lay their eggs. If the bromeliad is large enough you could add a small fish to the water. Soap does reduce water tension but soap is definately not good for watering plants. Mosquitoes will lay eggs in gutters, old tires, watering cans, pot saucers, bird baths, moist soil, etc. I have a

7,000 gall>I'm concerned that my bromeliads will provide places for mosquitos to

[Ricky]

If it rains, or the irrigation hits the bromeliads you will wash out any stagnant water that may be there. I've got thousands of bromeliads in the garden and I don't have any more mosquitoes than any of my neighbors. Of course living 200 yards from the Everglades doesn't help the situation much.

If you are really concerned then just hit the plants with a hose once a week and you'll clear out whatever is in there.

[SKYlark]

Your best bet is probably using Prestrike, which is a pelleted larvicide. Bromeliads will breed mosquitoes. Liquid Bit would work well, but it isn't available to the public. Soap reduces surface tension, but I don't know how long or well it would work.

this is from a friend of mine who is the "BUG" specialist at the university of georgia.