#mosquitoes

Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · Jul 20, 2026

Was hoping this article in the New York Times would be about bats eating mosquitoes but I was wrong. Headline and a single sentence in the article were there to make bats seem like friends (they are, but not because of how many mosquitoes they eat, which is very few). Digital version [follow gift link] has a different headline. #bats #chiroptera #mosquitoes #nyc #newyork #insects #nature #biology #journalism #nytimes https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/nyregion/bats-nyc-highline-prospect-park.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zFA.CO8C.VYStaJ_P2guq&smid=url-share

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Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · Jul 20, 2026

Replying to @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks

The University of Wisconsin Department of Entomology has a nice primer on why so many people think bats (and purple martins) control mosquitoes. #bats #mosquitoes https://mosquitosite.russell.wisc.edu/preventing-mosquito-bites/bats-and-birds/

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Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · Jul 22, 2026

If you spray your yard with garlic to repel mosquitoes you might be inadvertently inhibiting the reproduction of other insects. I.e., garlic-based whole-yard sprays are not as "eco-friendly" as pesticide companies claim. That's my take-away from this lab study showing effects on mosquitoes, fruit flies, and wasps. #mosquitoes #garlic #insects #pesticides https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092867426003387

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Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · Jul 26, 2026

If you make a mosquito bucket, please cover the top with screening so that toddlers don't fall in. Per the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 40 toddlers drown each year in the United States. Happens all over the world. Happens even when buckets are half full. #mosquitoes #buckets #health #safety #parenting #kids

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BBC News @bbc_news@robot.villas · Jul 23, 2026

What is the mosquito-borne disease Sri Lanka is using drones to fight? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgw8e0k1jyo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss #Health #Mosquitoes #Drones

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Likely Jan Lukas @likelyjanlukas@mstdn.ca · Jul 19, 2026

#Edmonton #Alberta is having an especially horrific year for #mosquitoes, which I suppose is one ofthe disadvantages of finally getting more than enough rain to be out of #drought at the moment. But back to the mosoquitoes -- we're in BIG trouble hereabouts, folks! They're expanding their strategies for blood sucking. I discovered one yesterday holed up IN MY FRIDGE to #ambush me! 😳 Thankfully, thermodynamics put a stop to that before she could use me as a snack, but still!!!!1! 😱 #StrategicThinking #Plotting #BloodSuckingMenances #yeg #yegwx #abwx

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Bich Nguyen @bich@apobangpo.space · Jul 11, 2026

"Our bodies exude numerous biological markers – including breath and body odour – which determine an individual's susceptibility to bites. For some people, those markers are irresistibly strong. Here are three ways the bloodsuckers may track you down." https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20260708-why-do-mosquitoes-bite-some-people-more-than-others #PublicHealth #mosquitoes #biology #research

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Gizmodo @gizmodo@robot.villas · Jul 01, 2026

Company Plans to Drop 600,000 Bacteria-Infected Mosquitoes into DC This Summer https://gizmodo.com/company-plans-to-drop-600000-bacteria-infected-mosquitoes-into-dc-this-summer-2000780205 #Science #Health #Mosquitoes

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Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · Jun 30, 2026

Made another mosquito-killing box fan to set up near chairs on my front porch. As mosquitoes approach they get flattened against the netting, which I spray with permethrin, a contact insecticide. #mosquitoes #permethrin #fan

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Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · Jun 05, 2026

Top reasons to NOT buy a bug zapper.

Kills a minuscule number of mosquitoes
Fries pounds of innocent insects per week (and thus starves local birds)
Confuses lightning bugs (probably)
Wastes electricity
Generates light pollution
Generates sound pollution
Creates germ risk when insects explode (if near table w/ food)
Can catch fire and burn your house down

#mosquitoes #insects #nature

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Colin Purrington @colinpurrington@flipping.rocks · May 02, 2026

Boosted by

hypebot @hypebot@goingdark.social

In my futile quest to get more people to make mosquito traps for their yards, I made a visual. Please share with friends and sneak into any presentation you're giving even if it's completely unrelated to mosquitoes. Mosquito Dunks contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis ("Bti"), a bacteria that is safe for everything except mosquito larvae, work for approximately 30 days, and are available at most garden centers and hardware stores in North America. Bti-containing powders and liquids are sold worldwide under different trade names. NB: the white lid helps you see mosquito larvae (if present it's time to add another dose of Bti). #mosquitoes #mosquito #ipm