[Jacob-list] Re: Mosquito battle (was: Good worming information) (Susan Nielsen)

[Heather Hettick]

We got 13 feeder goldfish for a $1 this spring just for fun, and I haven't seen a mosquito larva in their/the sheep's tank yet.  I move one or two to other containers that I see wigglers in if I don't want to dump the water and one fish can clean out a bucket over night.  We lost two the first week and only one since when the llama stepped on it while standing in the water tank to stay cool.
 
The kids love them and they make cleaning out the water tank entertaining although more work.  I don't have to dump it as often to get rid of the mosquito larvae though.  Now the kids want me to set up a fish tank for the winter but I think the fish have earned their keep.  I still get mosquito bites but it hasn't been quite as bad.  We also have always had bats and barn swallows around.  
 
Heather Hettick
Moonstruck Jacob Sheep
Creston, OH
Message: 1
Date: Thu, 4 Aug 2005 09:39:04 -0700 (PDT)
From: Susan Nielsen 
Subject: [Jacob-list] Mosquito battle (was: Good worming information)
To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com
Message-ID:


Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

On Thu, 4 Aug 2005, Karen wrote:

> http://www.cals.ncsu.edu./an_sci/extension/animal/meatgoat/MGWormer.htm
>
> Also any suggestions for mosquitoes??? My sheep were were very
> upset the other night. When I went out to check on them, I became
> covered with mosquitoes. Karen Sigler
> Benjamin Farms Utah

Yes! Fish!

Our County Vector Control delivers free "mosquito fish" to rural areas
for the asking. They are Gambusia affinis, a little guppy-looking
thing. When they were dropped off (since it's a non-native fish here,
they have to be delivered officially), I was astounded. They left me
6 little things about the size of a mosquito larva for our big tank.
But a month later, we have not one larva in the tank. And... quite a
number of little fishies finning around. More than 6 anyway.

I am told that common feeder goldfish will also eat mosquito larvae,
and can be had for about 10 cents apiece. I haven't looked into that
since the Gambusia have been so efficient. I don't think I'd combine
species in a tank, though. Ferocious as the G.'s are toward mosquito
larvae, I don't think they could take on a baby carp.

And birds!

We have put up (a way big number of) houses in the barns and on fences.
The tenancy rate for swallows is terrific, and keeps them from building
mud nests in the rafters for the most part. We are on our third set of
nestlings for this summer. And you should see those birds go hunting
in the evening. It's a joy to the insecticidal heart.

And bats, of course.

Encourage bats. Between the birds and bats taking the flying forms,
and the fish going for the swimmers, we have so far had a pretty good
mosquito-free summer.

Susan
--
Susan Layne Nielsen, Shambles Workshops |"...Gently down the
Beavercreek, OR, USA -- snielsen at orednet.org |stream..." -- Anon.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Purveyors of fine honey, Jacob Sheep, Ashford spinning products
and Interweave books


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