New ways to fight mosquitoes

<font size="2"><p align="justify">My children are being eaten alive by mosquitoes. What is the best product to use to prevent mosquito bites? - T.B., Rockford<strong><p align="justify">ANSWER:<p align="justify">Finally, take the fight to the little buggers. An effective and perfectly safe option is to sprinkle BT (bacillus thuringiensus) in standing water, such as swimming pools or fish ponds. It's a naturally occurring bacteria that attacks mosquito larvae. BT can be bought at home-and-garden stores in granule form or as so-called "dunks." Best of all, it's not toxic to humans or animals.<p align="justify">If you've taken these steps and you're still being swarmed, you'll want reinforcements. Just be careful which products you turn to, as they vary from completely benign (both to you and the mosquitoes) to potentially harmful for humans. Here's our experts' assessment of common strategies and products:<p align="justify">Save your money on bug zappers. They are safe for humans, but their effectiveness is a lot of sizzle and no steak. Despite the huge popularity of these devices, studies have shown that they're terrible at eliminating mosquito populations; only about one-quarter of one percent of the insects zapped were actually biting bugs. Most of the killed insects were beneficial. And trapping surveys have shown no significant difference between the number of mosquitoes in zapper-equipped yards and those without.<p align="justify">A slightly better option is the citronella-based products, but they still fall shy and offer only limited relief. The smoke from citronella candles may annoy the mosquitoes more than the citronella oil itself. So using the candles in a semi-enclosed area - a pool deck or a patio that has walls on two sides - has a chance of working.<p align="justify">So what should a would-be barbecuer do, other than retreat indoors? If you're going to be outside for a while, use a bug repellent that contains DEET. True, DEET can melt some synthetic clothing. And it can feel a little greasy. But if you've got too many bad DEET memories from Boy Scout camp, look for products containing a new chemical called Picaridin.<p align="justify">A simple but effective strategy for people sitting outside is to place a large fan so that it blows across the deck. Any wind speed of over one mile per hour will disrupt mosquito's flight and biting.This week's answer comes from Greg Larson, University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener, Winnebago County. It's summer time and the livin' is buggy. When it comes to dealing with mosquitoes, the best defense is a good offense, experts say. That means removing mosquito-friendly habitats from your yard. Mosquito larvae need to float atop still water to grow and hatch. So the American Mosquito Control Association advises you don't let water pool in flowerpot saucers or pet dishes for more than two days. Get rid of tin cans, old tires, buckets, unused plastic swimming pools and other containers that collect and hold water. Clean rain gutters. Change the water in birdbaths and wading pools at least every three days.</font></strong>

<p align="justify">QUESTION: