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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 374
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Tom,
Quote:
After the first 11 years, we have never had any in the house,eves, carports, workshop, or dome. They prefer the bat houses when they are available.
Knowing this, I will suggest this to my parents who live in Upper Michigan, and occassionally get bats in the eves and even under loose siding. A good home just might keep them where they belong. 
Thanks,
--Andy
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Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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A neighbor had no luck with their bat houses, they prefer under the eves, right above huge windows; kind of messy. 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Bob Myler
sage
Reged: 05/18/06
Posts: 224
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ThermaCELLS never contract rabies...
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andyschlei
sage
Reged: 03/05/06
Posts: 374
Loc: Los Angeles, CA
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Quote:
A neighbor had no luck with their bat houses, they prefer under the eves, right above huge windows; kind of messy.
Hmmm. I guess I'll just let sleeping bats hang then...
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Observatorio de la Ballona
Mar Vista
Lake Riverside Estates
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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 Good idea!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Mittag55
member
Reged: 10/31/08
Posts: 62
Loc: West Amboy, NY
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I gave up battling them and just live with them...I live next to a place called Happy Vally game management area which is a nice name for a chunk of gods country that looks and acts the same as it did in the 1700,s when bear deer and Indians were the only ones around...I named my little squick of an observatory Mosquito Hill in their honor so to speak. Bug dope breaks me out, i do wear a head net on the rare occasion, but mostly i tuck a cloths dryer sheet in my shirt neck opening and take my chances...LOL
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 734
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Has anyone draped their observatory with mosquito netting?
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Ian Robinson
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/29/09
Posts: 1154
Loc: Gateshead.NSW Nth Coast,Austra...
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Quote:
A neighbor had no luck with their bat houses, they prefer under the eves, right above huge windows; kind of messy.
Hang a few real looking fake snakes under the eves , that might stop the bats from roosting there maybe.
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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Quote:
Has anyone draped their observatory with mosquito netting?
What kind of views would you get thru the netting? I sure would have fun trying to move around mine, with 3 foot high walls, & netting draped over it.
Speaking for myself, when I can just click to start my ThermaCell, put it on the floor of my Observatory, & not be bothered the rest of the night with mosquitoes, going to other difficult solutions seems unnecessary (to me) 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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wb9sat
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 328
Loc: Eagar, Arizona USA
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Well I use astronomer's perfume. I would sell it to you at a profit, but you could probably buy it cheaper where you live. It's called "Off."
Bill
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Bill Logan
Logan Observatory
Eagar, Arizona, USSA
Elevation: 7,400 feet (2,600 meters) ASL
NexStar 11 GPS on Milburn wedge
Permanent steel pier
12' x 12' Roll-off-roof
WO ZS-66ED refractor
Meade DSI Pro II monochrome
Meade DSI II OSC
Orion 7nm Narrowband filters
73 de WB9SAT
[url=http://loganobservatory.shutterfly.com[/url]
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AlienFirstClass
professor emeritus
Reged: 02/13/09
Posts: 734
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Quote:
Quote:
Has anyone draped their observatory with mosquito netting?
What kind of views would you get thru the netting? I sure would have fun trying to move around mine, with 3 foot high walls, & netting draped over it.
Speaking for myself, when I can just click to start my ThermaCell, put it on the floor of my Observatory, & not be bothered the rest of the night with mosquitoes, going to other difficult solutions seems unnecessary (to me)
A view through the netting would not be good...BUT...one could easily drape netting over the majority of the open observatory that one is not viewing through and screen for a majority of mosquitoes.
I have also used fans directed at me and the scope to ward off mosquitoes...and it works.
It keeps one much cooler also.
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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Quote:
A view through the netting would not be good...BUT...one could easily drape netting over the majority of the open observatory that one is not viewing through and screen for a majority of mosquitoes.
I would then be moving around my Dobservatory on my knees, with my 3 ft. high walls! If I had to go to all this trouble, it wouldn't be worth it.
Again, I don't understand going to such troublesome lengths, when one can use the ThermaCell, or even bug spray on themselves, if desired!
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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JerryK
super member
Reged: 09/25/05
Posts: 151
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I helped design a West Nile management program for a municipality I used to work for. This is what I learned:
Mosquitos have about a 100ft perception range. They breed in water including rain gutters, children's toy's, tires, flower pot water trays, birdbaths, low spots in lawns. Draining sources nearby helps a lot.
Adult female mosquitos can be confused enough not to search for you by the simple technique of moving air which dilutes the CO2, heat signiture, etc eminating from you. Research at Michigan State University shows a simple 5-10mph air movement is sufficient. Two fans set an an angle can nearly form a 'wind barrier' and the breeze doesn't have to contact you if you set it up right, but one fan will work if it is directed on you. In fact they designed a deck with PVC pipes that directed a curtain of air around the edge of the deck. If you're interested, I've got the PDF file of the research paper somewhere I could send you.
Pyrethrum/pyrethrins are botanical pesticides derived from the pyrethrum daisy (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium) and C. cineum).Using it or it's synthetic analog sprayed in a 100ft perimeter works well too. Mosquitoes must rest and when they land on the sprayed lawn and plants, they die!
pyrethrum is usually sold at a a 6% concentrate in garden centers or organic farmers co-ops. Once you see how much it costs, you'll begin to understand why organic produce costs so much.
The synthetic version is caled, Permethrin & is sold under the following brand names:
* Repel Permanone
* Cutter Outdoorsman Deer Guard
* Sawyer Insect Repellent
It's safer than breathing Thermacell chemicals!
If you do want to wear repellent, Ben's water-based DEET skin spray won't harm optical surfaces and plastics, nor will Picaridin to my knowledge. I use the two products around the telescope.
Hope this helps!
Jerry
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wb9sat
sage
Reged: 06/16/09
Posts: 328
Loc: Eagar, Arizona USA
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Wow! Great info there. I like the fan idea. Kind of like an air curtain that is used over the entrances to supermarkets. Thanks for the information. By the way, speaking of mosquitoes, Here's a piece of trivia the next time you're out on a star party. In the Handbook of Astronomical Image Processing by Richard Berry and James Burnell, page 2, "Ultra-high energy gamma-ray photons pack as much punch as a cruising mosquito..."
Bill
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Bill Logan
Logan Observatory
Eagar, Arizona, USSA
Elevation: 7,400 feet (2,600 meters) ASL
NexStar 11 GPS on Milburn wedge
Permanent steel pier
12' x 12' Roll-off-roof
WO ZS-66ED refractor
Meade DSI Pro II monochrome
Meade DSI II OSC
Orion 7nm Narrowband filters
73 de WB9SAT
[url=http://loganobservatory.shutterfly.com[/url]
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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Quote:
It's safer than breathing Thermacell chemicals!
Jerry, no offense, & I bow to your expertise; but I don't understand why the Thermacell is considered more toxic to breath in, than slathering oneself with repellents.
I can't even smell the Thermacell, while in my observatory, & one can hardly see any vapor, but for me, it works. I've yet to see any documentation concerning ill effects on people, using it. ( Allethrin, a copy of a naturally occurring insecticide found in chrysanthemum flowers.)
Speaking for myself, only; I love it, & will continue to use it. 
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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JerryK
super member
Reged: 09/25/05
Posts: 151
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No offence taken. I believe information helps us all to make better decisions.....
Occasionally when we go up north camping and observing to even more serious mosquito populations we bring along similar gadgets. But I don't suggest making a habit of breathing the stuff in. I personally prefer spaying or applying repellents to the area instead of myself!
Or, much more cheaply, use a fan!
Ok, let's address your issue directly:Your lungs are totally unlike your skin for example.
Your epidermis's outer layer is designed to ablate off which helps rid it of environmental toxins. It's quite thick and resistant to absorption to many water-based ingredients.
Lungs on the other hand are thin tissue DESIGNED for absorption! It's a very easy way to get pesticides into one's body! You might be interested in reading the Material Safety Data Sheet on Allethrin. Here’s an excerpt:
"Ingestion: Harmful if swallowed. May cause irritation of the digestive tract. The toxicological properties of this substance have not been fully investigated.
Inhalation: Harmful if inhaled. May cause respiratory tract irritation. The toxicological properties of this substance have not been fully investigated.
May cause an allergic response. High exposure may cause dizziness, shaking, irritability, seizures, and loss of consciousness. Allethrin may cause an asthma-like allergy.
Future exposure can cause asthma attacks withshortness of breath, wheezing, cough, and/or chest tightness.
Chronic: May cause liver and kidney damage."
I would personally avoid constant doses of the stuff, particularly breathing it.
Jerry
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Luigi
Post Laureate
Reged: 07/03/07
Posts: 4927
Loc: MA
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No guarantee that naturally occurring extracts are safe. Try ricin or aflatoxin, or how about extracts from the lovely tobacco plant. As far as health disclaimers, it is impossible to fully investigate toxicological properties because there is no definition for what "fully" means, and what's fully today will not be fully tomorrow. (Or maybe it's just folly?) Anyway, anything you buy will have as many disclaimers as they can think up to help reduce liability exposure from claims which may have absolutely no causal basis. Mosquito extract isn't that safe either so pick your poison.
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17.5" f/5 Dob. IM-715 MCT. 120ED. Lunt 60mm Ha.
Zeiss, Leica, Fujinon, Nikon, Pentax, Bushnell bins
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csa/montana
Wild Spirit
Reged: 05/14/05
Posts: 40135
Loc: montana
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Thanks Jerry, but again, I've used the coils, etc., for years, and am still here The Thermacell is probably the very least of what may do me harm. You should read the warning labels of my prescribed medications! The repellents used on the skin, irritate my breathing much more, as I'm breathing it in close to my face. Plus, call me crazy, but I sure don't feel like taking a shower at 3am or so, to get the goop off my skin, before going to bed.
It comes down to what each individual feels comfortable with, & what works best for them; as I mentioned, there are far greater things around to cause me harm than the Thermacell, which I fully intend to use in the observatory, as well as on my deck.
of course, for everyone; YMMV, .
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Carol
AstroTech 16" Dob (Thanks ASTRONOMICS!)
Vixen 80MF/AstroTech Voyager
Masuyama's 7.5, 15, 25W, 35mm,
Pentaxes; 5XW, 7XL, 10XW.
14mm Meade 4000 UWA
TV Panoptics; 22, 35
DreamCatcher Dobservatory, #2
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Scott K
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/13/07
Posts: 1406
Loc: Dallas, TX & Eufaula, OK
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I would guess that the risks from any of the repellents in question are VASTLY lower than the risk of mosquito borne infection. Some of the diseases they carry are really, really bad too.
Actually the only real worry I have about thermacells is the tiny little flame, which could be dangerous in certain types of environments. The possibility of accident seems likely higher than the other health risks. (Although I don't think it's very high, the plate on top doesn't get THAT hot. I've had one malfunction, and it simply wouldn't light ever again - which is the correct way to malfunction in this case.) BTW, anyone know what happens if you just forget and leave the thing running all night - I'm always afraid I'll do that.
I do think the holstered version of the device that you are supposed to wear on your belt is insanity, and I'd never do that, because I am quite sure I'd find a way to fall down on it and set myself on fire. (I think the battery operated Off! version of this Luigi mentioned is probably a whole lot safer to wear.)
You will never eliminate all risk - you can only minimize it, and even then you have to be careful to not go overboard.
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Pedestal
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/11/06
Posts: 3844
Loc: Smoggy Bottom, Baytown,Texas
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Quote:
BTW, anyone know what happens if you just forget and leave the thing running all night - I'm always afraid I'll do that.
.
Yes-it will eventually just run out of propane. 
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Hubert
---------------------------------
www.smoggybottom.org
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