Killer Mozzies
 

Hi all

In looking at places to rent in Calgary, I came across a few places with lakes nearby (Hamptons was one). I was very quickly warned about the pest mozzies that you encounter when you move anywhere near a lake.

Are they that bad? Seriously, this person told me they were that bad that you should avoid living near lakes and they kept going on and on about it.

I'm now picturing swarms of mozzies approaching the house at dusk and everyone running inside and closing the doors and windows like some kind of apocalypse.

Surely .... maybe .... not that bad? :confused:

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

I guess it all depends on what you're used to but this person you mentioned sounds like a bit of a drama queen to me. Yes, mozzies are attracted to bodies of water but as for an apocalypse? nah. There may be times when you don't want to sit outside but its not the end of the world. I grew up in Northwestern Ontario dubbed the mosquito capital of Canada and while irritating at times it was no big deal. I've also lived in Calgary & have to say the flies are nowhere near as bad there.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Mozzies can get pretty bad, but most peole have mozzy screens on their doors and windows and also we have mozzy spray which can be quite effectve. So no need to do anything about your doors and windows.

When we first came to Canada what you describe was my family but after being laughed at a few times and bitten a few times you realise that getting bitten is not the end of the world. If you really don't mind being laughed at you can also buy a Mozzy suit.

There seems to be people who are mozzy magnets and others who just never get bitten at all. You stand near them and they and there are also people like my daughter who are allergic to their bites. To most they are a minor nuisance.

The biggest worry about living near a body of water is the danger of flooding rather than mosquitoes.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

I'm allergic to mozzie bites...but it was black flies that gave me the most trouble this summer. :frown:

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Cant speak for alberta, but in Ontario they can be a nuisance as dusk falls. Especially for newbies who tend to come out in big bumps.

One advantage of waterfront though is there is often a breeze which will hamper them, and if they are a problem you can always invest in a skeetervac, although in a heavily wooded area its likely to only make a small dent in the population anyway...

I wouldnt let them put me off a nice lakefront property, the pros outweigh the cons.

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d1...k/DSC00745.jpg

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Mozzies breed in standing water, so be aware if you have drainage ditches, ponds without a fountain or other water disturbance and moist wooded areas, keep gutters clear and cover water barrels and at the worst times of year, smother yourselves in repellant.

We've had a lake front place and the mozzies were no worse than anywhere else.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

They are bad everywhere main thing is keeping them away there is some other posts to look at with some good ideas on, thing is you will get them anywhere long grass is another factor

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

No they're not. You barely see any the whole summer living by the seaside.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Problem solved. Seaside properties are 6 a penny in Calgary. :sneaky:

I wouldn't let mosquitoes put you off a lakeside property. The worst areas I've seen have been playing fields nowhere near to standing water. The city does also use chemicals to kill mosquito larvae in known breeding grounds such as large bodies of water.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Thanks everyone

I'll make sure I tell my drama queen friend to harden the *BLEEP* up.

I can't see them being much worse than Oz, but then again I do remember they are the size of seagulls in Canada and extremely slow (has my mind possibly exaggerated the size?). In saying that, I am one of those sweet blooded mozzie magnets, so it may not matter where I am, they will find me!

Cheers

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Reminds me of a night a couple of years back when I was still in Canada, I was talking to hubby via Skype & had the laptop out on the patio. The sun was just going down and the bugs were starting to get active when a mozzie flew right in front of the webcam. From hubby's vantage point it looked absolutely monstrous, he got the fright of his life & screamed "what the hell was THAT????". I scarcely noticed.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

:rofl:
Mozasaurus

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

I was so concerned about them and I did notice them a lot last year, this year they are barely on my radar. I dont have any major reaction to their bites anyway but they used to be a big issue when we first got here.

Relatives are here from England currently and are making a huge song and dance about a couple of little bites and searching out afterbite and other cream. I smile to myself and imagine how they will be if a deerfly gets them....

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Deerfly/horseflies are a bitch. You can actually feel the buggers biting you and when you look they are still on your skin. Their bites irritate for months. :mad:

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

yep I know, hideous things

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

I'd swap all the mossies in the world for the amount of wasps / hornets that are around right now :frown:

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Oh great .... so now we need to watch out for them too :eek:
And I thought Australia was riddled with danger!

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Pest control is your friend

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

so when you say newbies are coming out in bumps does that mean that we will eventually get used to them and not react anymore! ive been here 4 months and had 6 of the buggers biting me!! they leave a nasty mark thats about 6cm round! if not bigger and they are irritable, antihistimines are good for them but i couldent belive the price! $12 a box ah well better get used to it lol.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

Most people get used to them, but not everyone.

For example they do not bother me much anymore, but they are still an annoyance. My wife still has the same reaction she had when we arrived and I have a daughter who is allergic and her reaction got worse rather than better. The area of the bite swells up like a ballon and she has many nasty looking scars.

There are those who think mosquito bites are a good thing and spread all kinds of old wives tales about their supposed benefits.

A friend of mine who is a doctor said they had a conference at McGill University where leading professionals examined all the arguements for and against eradicating Mosquitoes. It was decided that they could be safely eradicated from the face of the earth without any major consequences. But easier said than done.

Re: Killer Mozzies
 

We found the first year was the worst for us, I remember my sister and I being wall to wall fly bites and often having to jump in a cool bath with baking soda in the middle of the night. The second summer wasn't nearly as bad. If the welts are that big and continue to be that big you might want to get checked for allergies, normally they would be about the size of a pea but you do see the odd exception. There are these tiny little flies commonly nicknamed "no-see-em's" because you can't see them, only feel them (man do they pack a wallop!) that are unfortunately small enough to pass through fly screen mesh. Their bites can come up as big welts so perhaps that's what's gotten you but thankfully they don't seem to be as common as mozzies.