Skeeter Meter
September 25th, 2008 at 10:37 am by Bill Steffen under Bill's Blog
We tried to eat dinner outside Weds. Night, but got chased inside by mosquitoes. They’re not everywhere, but a good part of West Michigan has seen a big uptick in the mosquito population. We had a dry August, so we didn’t have much standing water around. However, after the heavy rain on Sept. 4, 13 and 14, the standing water, relatively warm weather and light winds provided a perfect environment for the skeeters to breed and then attack. Usually it takes about a week after a significant rain to get the mosquitoes out in full force. The spider population has also been on the high side in places this late summer. Leave a comment and let us know what’s buggin’ ya in your area.
Bring on the “skeeters” any time over spiders.. I can’t stand them, don’t want to see them and my skin just crawls looking at one… needless to say.. I have “spiderphobia”.. not even going to attempt the spelling the actual word
We have noticed a thriving mosquito population in Hudsonville. Haven’t noticed spiders, thank goodness!
As an aside, I just e mailed my dad that I have it on “good authority”
(so far, that would just be ME) that we wouldn’t have snow before Nov 20. Back me up, anyone?? I know, I am crazy. The odds aren’t in my favor, are they????
Hey Bill, try eating a banana about 10mins before you go out. I live next to a swamp, trust me, it’s mosquitoes galore, and I was bit only once and it only itched for 5 minutes. The potassium in your blood retards them. Just something about it… You have emissions from your skin, it’s the CO2 that attracts them to you I have been told. The potassium in your blood emits through your skin and acts as a natural repellent. At least for me anyways, give it a try!
By the way, wearing OFF! in the heat and peak of summer will result in sunburn, so don’t do that… I tried it once and I NEVER burn, and that day I did!
Spider population has been awesome here, I love it!
HA! Skeeter Meter…. Cute….
Skeeters have been terrible, while taking the photos last Sat Night of the sunset, we were battling the skeeters the whole time ….finally after the sunset, we booked for the car..
Spiders are also in abundance..inside & out!!!
My birdbaths were loaded with mosquito larvae. For those of you with any standing water around, it is important to “dump” stagnant water once a week to control mosquito populations in your backyards.
Craig, how can I dump the 2 acre swamp? LOL
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Still hearing the occassional Cidicada, and getting a good concert from the Katydid’s at night here in Allegan. Probably be all gone after next week. Mosquitoes haven’t been all that bad, but I don’t get out that often. Especially in our lack of thundershowers/storms recently. Didn’t even see lightning with that cell that went over Paw Paw, which dropped the tornadoes.
Charles, mosquitos don’t reproduce in swamps or permanently standing water. If you have old tires that are holding water or garbage containers w/o the lids on that are holding water, “kiddie” pools, etc. This is prime breeding grounds for the skeeters…..
The mosquitos are TERRIBLE here in SW Walker. I don’t remember the last time they were this bad. We were litterally getting swarmed and eventually just went back inside because nothing was keeping them away.
Mosquitos everywhere. We were out at a soccer game at Brewer Park. The Mosquitos were on the “war path”. I usually don’t get bit. I felt like I was swarmed tonight! Not a bad spider problem from what I can see in our area. I say first snow around Nov 15th.
I’d like to have a first frost to kill the bugs!
OK I am not one to beg for a frost BUT after being outside tonight I say bring it on!!! The mosquitos are more than horrible and I am ready to be done with them for the season. (Sure wish we could keep the warm weather though)!
I have also noticed an increase in the number of spiders. They must know it is going to get colder out because they are coming inside and these are not little spiders either…they are HUGE! Even my 4 boys who love bugs squirm at the sight of these things and come screaming for mommy to squish them. =)
Hey Craig, come on down to the swamp and tell me they don’t reproduce there LOL I don’t have anything else around with standing water =) I dumped those months ago, heck I really don’t have anything sitting around period anymore, I have been up to some major cleaning lately…
I’ll venture into the swamp tomorrow maybe and take a video of the larvae.. They are in there bro! The swamp is seasonal.. It’s not always full, unless we have a good rainy season.
JENNI NO!! NOT FROSTS!!
It was amazing, but we sat outside till 9:30 last night and only 1 skeeter to swat…vs last week, we were human pin cushions..
Last night was awesome!
Bring on the frost! and thennnnnnn….
I had marching band practice and I basically had to take a shower in bug spray to get them to leave me alone. It was bad.
Skeeters are bad again. Had some in the house the other night. Been awhile since that’s happened.
Spiders, all over the place.
One really cool garden spider, (those big, yellow/green striped ones that build orb webs.) right outside our door on the sunflowers.
Hoping ds doesn’t get antsy to chop the sunflowers (that are pretty dried up) down, any time soon.
I have a big old spider that comes out at night right on my front porch light. She is cool. She sure was feasting on the bugs last night!
I used to be an arachnaphobe, but now I am fine with them outside, just not a big fan of the bigger ones in my house. They are interesting creatures!
Skeeters? Tons of them! Spiders? Everywhere. I’ve even had spiders in my car, twice, while driving down the road! Enough already!