Submitted by the Georgia Department of Agriculture
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Question: Will an electric “bug zapper” help control mosquitoes in my yard?
Answer: Bug zappers can actually make things worse by attracting more mosquitoes to the area. They also kill insects indiscriminately, including those that do not bother people or even ones considered beneficial to gardeners and farmers. Another drawback is the electric grid that kills the insects can cause the trapped insect to explode. Not a pleasant thought as you bite into that hamburger you grilled near your bug zapper.
Q: What about machines that emit ultrasound to keep mosquitoes away? Are they effective?
A: No. They are a waste of money.
Q: Are citronella candles and coils effective at repelling mosquitoes?
A: Their effectiveness is limited to small areas (a few feet) and windless conditions.
Q: I have fallen in love with crepe myrtles. They do so well in Georgia; are they native here? Can they be planted in the fall?
A: Crepe myrtles (also spelled crape myrtles) do so well here and are so widely planted, it is easy to think they are native. Our most common crepe myrtle is Lagerstroemia indica. It comes from China and Korea, although the indica in its name means “from or of India.” It is possible that the crepe myrtle in your garden may be a cross between Lagerstroemia indica and Lagerstroemia fauriei, a species of crepe myrtle from Japan. Although not as common, the Japanese species is finding its way into garden centers and nurseries. Its flowers are not as showy as Lagerstroemia indica, but it has beautiful cinnamon-colored bark, a trait it sometimes passes along to its offspring as well as more resistance to powdery mildew and ability to withstand colder temperatures. Fall is an excellent time to plant crepe myrtles.
If you have questions about services or products regulated by the Georgia Department of Agriculture, visit our website at www.agr.georgia.gov or write us at 19 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Room 227, Atlanta, GA 30334 or e-mail us at info@agr.georgia.gov.
