mosquito netting?

[N8N]

Hi again...

today's project is to make some filters/bug screens for my cisterns. I do have a bit of a skeeter problem, and I attribute this in part to the fact that the tops of the cisterns are open (there's an air gap between the downspouts and the cisterns) and the PO of the place simply shoved some aluminum screen in there to filter out the pine needles and keep the bugs out. They're not really anchored well though so I'm going to make some rings out of Masonite and screw them down with a little silicone to truly bug-proof them.

Here's the question, though - I was thinking that skeeters could probably get through a standard piece of window screen, so I went to REI and bought a cheap little single person mosquito tent thing thinking i would cut it up and sandwich a piece of that material between two pieces of aluminum window screen for strength. Here I unpack it and the holes in the mosquito net aren't any smaller than just the screen alone. Will this be adequate, or should I look for something finer? Cheesecloth maybe?

nate

[jmeehan]

Cheesecloth has even larger holes.

Bugs have been around a very long time. I suspect they are going to find a way around any barrier you can come up with.

[mm]

I don't think so. Wouldn't there be mosquitoes in most people's homes if that were the case? Mosquitoes may be little but they still have wings and their wingspan must be longer than the holes in the screens or they'd make screening with smaller holes. And I've seen mosquitoes. I think their wingspan is twice as long, and I don't think they can fold back their wings and walk through the holes either. I forget why, but maybe their wings can stop but won't fold back.

There you go! I was going to say that I figured they wouldn't be. The difference between the two is tha t mosquito netting rolls up and folds up, and aluminum windows screening doesn't (well it does, but it's hard to straighten out later) Vinyl window screaning is more pliable, but cloth mosquito netting and whatever material is used in tents is much more pliable than either window screening.

Either would be adqueate, no don't look, cheesecloth is made from cotton or something and if it is outside, gets wet, never dries in some spots, it's going to rot.

[gfretwell]

Window screen keeps the mosquitos out, but "no see ums" have no respect for screen

[Oren]

LOL! I thought I would knock myself out a few times, trying to slap 'em off. Little 'bastards' hurt..

[cshenk]

"Oren" wrote

Snicker, I feel your pain.

To the origional poster, I'd use a flexible plastic/vinyl window screening or that nylon net you already have. I'd also add a light layer of some sort of oil to the water top to prevent most bugs from being able to germinate in there. In my case, it would be something food safe 'just in case kids or pets' got into it. That of course assumes it's a cistern for grey water use, not showers or drinking. (Plant irrigation etc, old cooking oil is fine!).

[Norminn]

Not knowing anything about such a contraption, I can think of only one fix. Layer wire screening with a fiberglass furnace filter between. Should last a while and keep out most everything.

[N8N]

You may be right, I got the first screen assembly done the other day and set it in place while the silicone I used to goo it all together was setting up. When I pulled it back out to wave a spray can at it a whole mess of skeeters flew out of the cistern, so I can only assume they were trapped in there by the screen. This without even screwing it down or using weatherstrip on the underside, which I'd planned to do. So far so good. I'll knock the other one out tonight if it's not too dark by the time SWMBO gets home (need her to hold the stock steady while I cut, since my "workbench" is the picnic table, so drilling holes in it for dogs would probably not be a good idea, domestic tranquility wise...) I already clamped screens over the overflow pipes and also the air vent in the composter, I don't see any standing water anywhere (no water in saucers under plant pots, etc) so hopefully this will convince the little buggers that they're just not welcome here.

Gaah... just remembered another possible "gotcha" there is an abandoned downspout drain pipe underneath the deck, and I can't remember if it was capped off or not... I'll bet you that's where some of them are coming from. don't know why I didn't think of this before.

nate