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Trap mosquitoes with our MKS-1022 C02 mosquito trap, mosquito
control product. A complete mosquito trap and mosquito killing system.
Mosquito season is
just around the corner, and mosquito-borne diseases will soon be
resurfacing. The Centers for Disease Control documented over 34,000 cases
of equine West Nile virus in the United States since 2001, with a 25
percent mortality rate. Eastern Equine Encephalitis is not as prevalent as
West Nile virus, but it is predicted to spread to other states this year
and the fatality rate is 90 percent.
To protect horses,
the mosquito populations around stables and pens must be reduced.
Traditional methods of control, however, are not sufficient. Keeping
horses stabled during heavy mosquito activity, insecticide fogging, and
topical mosquito repellents are not adequate safeguards. Even vaccinations
do not ensure protection.
"No vaccine
has a 100 percent guarantee of preventing an illness," said Dr.
Marcia Hillard, DVM, with the Northeast Arkansas Equine Center in
Jonesboro. "Some horses do not respond favorably to vaccinations. As
a result, they are susceptible to mosquito-borne diseases. Plus, a large
number of horses will not get vaccinated and others will not get their
boosters."
Dr. Hillard
recommends a safe and effective way to reduce mosquitoes in target areas.
"The Mosquito Killing System is the most efficient method of mosquito
control we have found. And we've tried everything," she said.
Developed with
technical assistance from NASA, the Mosquito Killing System is the result
of 16 years of research and testing. This Underwriters Laboratory (UL)
Listed device attracts mosquitoes by mimicking body temperatures and
breathing patterns of warm-blooded mammals through thermal imagery and
carbon dioxide.
The Mosquito
Killing System reduces the mosquito population in a one-acre area without
pesticides or chemicals. It is quiet, odorless and does not use a propane
tank. This technology is used at government facilities, health clinics,
amusement parks, universities, stables and horse racetracks.
The Mosquito
Killing System has six unique features. First, it uses electricity because
propane cannot produce the proper airflow or heat to mimic body
temperatures. Second, scientific measurements are applied for the heat
source and carbon dioxide release. Third, controlled and measured releases
of carbon dioxide cycle every several minutes producing body heat
signatures of humans, horses, etc. Fourth, mosquitoes detect no air
turbulence, but the airflow sufficiently vacuums them in. Fifth, the
machine is self cleaning. Sixth, the unit's surface simulates skin
texture.
"I bought my
first system five years ago, and I've purchased over a dozen since,"
said Dr. Hillard. "I gave some to friends, sold several to clients
and kept a few. The only alternative is to put horses inside from dusk to
dawn and position big fans on them. Using fans doesn't eliminate
mosquitoes, it just helps keep them off the horses at night."
Whether you have
20 acres or 220 acres, you don't need to protect the entire property. You
only need to protect the area near the stables and pens. This can easily
be accomplished with the MKS units, depending on the size and layout of
the pens and stables. Horses usually come to this area at dusk and stay
until dawn, which is peak mosquito activity. You will notice within a few
weeks after using the machines that your horses will seem much more
comfortable in the protected area. The mosquito population in the vicinity
of these machines will be drastically reduced compared to the mosquitoes
in the unprotected areas.
In actual tests,
most machines catch 50-100 mosquitoes daily. The Mosquito Killing System
in the same test area, however, consistently captures from a few hundred
to several thousand per night, greatly reducing mosquito populations. Each
mosquito caught is a female that can lay a raft of 300 eggs. So, for every
1,000 mosquitoes eliminated the mosquito population is actually reduced by
300,000 in that area.
Mosquitoes stay
very near their hatching source. To reduce an area of mosquitoes requires
at least two weeks. Occasionally, it takes longer to capture enough
generations of female mosquitoes to eliminate new eggs from hatching in
the vicinity of the device. It is recommended that all stagnant water and
roosting sites, such as tall grass, be eliminated in conjunction with
using the machine.
Now is the time to
prepare for mosquitoes. Don't wait for a full-blown infestation. According
to the Centers for Disease Control, over 9,100 documented human cases of
West Nile virus were reported nationwide last year and 228 people died. It
is much easier to protect horses, people and pets when a mosquito control
program is in place at the beginning of mosquito season.
"If you think
anything of your horses, this is a good investment and definitely worth
the money," said Dr. Hillard. "I even encourage owners with
vaccinated horses to buy one or two systems. Your horses will be a lot
more comfortable."
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