Q: I collect rainwater in open containers to use to water plants. Is there something I can put in the standing water to keep mosquitoes from breeding that would not harm plants? Would something like soap solve my problem?

— Abilene

A: This may only scratch the surface for your question.

Glenn Bailey, the city’s environmental health manager, tells me that the recommended way is to cover all open containers with 14-18 mesh wire to keep mosquitoes from laying eggs on the water.

“There are enzymes that can be applied to the water to break the water tension so that the larvae and pupae cannot take in air through their siphon tubes,” he said. “It is possible that soap would do the same. A very light sheen of vegetable oil on the water would also plug their breathing tubes.”

I checked with the folks over at Clearlight, who do a lot of screen enclosures. They tell me that the 14-18 represents the density of the weave of the wire in the mesh.

Ask Doug’s column appears Monday through Thursday in the Reporter-News.