On Sat, 23 Aug 2008 09:42:44 -0700 (PDT), N8N
wrote:

Hi again...

today's project is to make some filters/bug screens for my cisterns.
I do have a bit of a skeeter problem, and I attribute this in part to
the fact that the tops of the cisterns are open (there's an air gap
between the downspouts and the cisterns) and the PO of the place
simply shoved some aluminum screen in there to filter out the pine
needles and keep the bugs out. They're not really anchored well
though so I'm going to make some rings out of Masonite and screw them
down with a little silicone to truly bug-proof them.

Here's the question, though - I was thinking that skeeters could
probably get through a standard piece of window screen, so I went to

I don't think so. Wouldn't there be mosquitoes in most people's
homes if that were the case? Mosquitoes may be little but they
still have wings and their wingspan must be longer than the holes in
the screens or they'd make screening with smaller holes. And I've
seen mosquitoes. I think their wingspan is twice as long, and I don't
think they can fold back their wings and walk through the holes
either. I forget why, but maybe their wings can stop but won't fold
back.

REI and bought a cheap little single person mosquito tent thing
thinking i would cut it up and sandwich a piece of that material
between two pieces of aluminum window screen for strength. Here I
unpack it and the holes in the mosquito net aren't any smaller than
just the screen alone.

There you go! I was going to say that I figured they wouldn't be.
The difference between the two is tha t mosquito netting rolls up and
folds up, and aluminum windows screening doesn't (well it does, but
it's hard to straighten out later) Vinyl window screaning is more
pliable, but cloth mosquito netting and whatever material is used in
tents is much more pliable than either window screening.

Will this be adequate, or should I look for
something finer? Cheesecloth maybe?

Either would be adqueate, no don't look, cheesecloth is made from
cotton or something and if it is outside, gets wet, never dries in
some spots, it's going to rot.

nate