3 ms·

this is a great answer. 2 thoughts. you mentioned anecdotally that you [noted a distinct lack of 'skeeters' in the 1st yr]. have you come up with a more riger

this is a great answer. 2 thoughts. you mentioned anecdotally that you [noted a distinct lack of 'skeeters' in the 1st yr]. have you come up with a more rigerous test to validate the results? also are you using native fish? it's generally not a great idea to introduce foreign animals to an ecosystem??

0des 4y ago
I am not sure how I would test that, maybe some type of hood over a bucket with a predetermined number of mosquitos, and predetermined number of fish, and some type of mammal for blood supply. Id have to discuss it with my wife but I suppose I could build her a little mosquito hut to live in for a week. The reason why I attribute the lack of mosquitos to the fish is that I've lived here for a few decades now, and as of the latter half of it I've noticed that if I can get a large colony out there when I notice the first mosquitos, they'll be acclimated and multiplying by the time the really bad time hits around april and may, and I notice much less mosquito activity as a result, within a certain radius. The fish I am using don't exist natively locally or anywhere in their current form as their parents are considered to be endangered in the wild (poecilla wingeii), however, there are native ones that live in the area, they just don't have many of the same characteristics other than size and shape, and being the same species technically. Their behavior and color are somewhat different. Their closest relative is Karen Kooman's Japan Blue Endler, however these are a newer variant known as the flame type, which have a Poecilla reticulata ancestor that added a distinctive hunger and a flame patterned spotted dorsal fin that extends in length beyond the tail. I suppose this is more of an issue with whoever controls binomial nomenclature and how these designations are made. I'm just a programmer, so unfortunately outside of my own goals I don't have much ambition to pursue my own species name. Poecilla skeeteii does sound cool though. edit: One last thing. My next target is my other personal enemy, the brown recluse spider. Attempts at weaponizing the housecat have been frustrating and discouraging.
- thfuran 4y ago
  I think tarantula hawks will eat brown recluse but I can't really say I'd recommend trying to cultivate them.

0des 4y ago

I am not sure how I would test that, maybe some type of hood over a bucket with a predetermined number of mosquitos, and predetermined number of fish, and some type of mammal for blood supply. Id have to discuss it with my wife but I suppose I could build her a little mosquito hut to live in for a week. The reason why I attribute the lack of mosquitos to the fish is that I've lived here for a few decades now, and as of the latter half of it I've noticed that if I can get a large colony out there when I notice the first mosquitos, they'll be acclimated and multiplying by the time the really bad time hits around april and may, and I notice much less mosquito activity as a result, within a certain radius. The fish I am using don't exist natively locally or anywhere in their current form as their parents are considered to be endangered in the wild (poecilla wingeii), however, there are native ones that live in the area, they just don't have many of the same characteristics other than size and shape, and being the same species technically. Their behavior and color are somewhat different. Their closest relative is Karen Kooman's Japan Blue Endler, however these are a newer variant known as the flame type, which have a Poecilla reticulata ancestor that added a distinctive hunger and a flame patterned spotted dorsal fin that extends in length beyond the tail. I suppose this is more of an issue with whoever controls binomial nomenclature and how these designations are made. I'm just a programmer, so unfortunately outside of my own goals I don't have much ambition to pursue my own species name. Poecilla skeeteii does sound cool though. edit: One last thing. My next target is my other personal enemy, the brown recluse spider. Attempts at weaponizing the housecat have been frustrating and discouraging.

thfuran 4y ago
I think tarantula hawks will eat brown recluse but I can't really say I'd recommend trying to cultivate them.