You don’t need fancy equipment or heavy-duty chemicals to keep your backyard get-togethers mosquito-free.
Every backyard enthusiast wants to crack the code of how to get rid of mosquitoes outside.
Alas, we can’t eradicate them.
But there are ways to prevent them from ruining your next s’mores night around thecampfireand keep yourself mosquito bite-free.
Dina Fonseca, PhD, is the chair of the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University.
“But we’ve domesticated them to realize that we’re a source of blood.”
And they also help pollinate flowers.
Mostly, mosquitoes live on sugar from plants.
“They use the blood to feed the eggs.”
As far as times of day, these insects prefer early mornings and early evenings.
“No water, no mosquitoes,” states Fonseca.
Unfortunately, even the smallest amount of standing water results in too many mosquitoes.
“We cleared out one of those and found 500 larvae for Asian tiger mosquitoes.”
“Plastic was the best thing that ever happened to mosquitoes,” Fonseca adds.
Since mosquitoes love standing water, dirty gutters create an ideal breeding ground for them.
ensure youclean your gutterstwice a yearlate spring and fall are idealand install gutter guards, if applicable.
However, maintaining your pool can help prevent mosquito infestations in several ways.
(Besides the s’mores, of course!)
Declutter Your Yard
Purge old junk that’s been sitting around unused in your backyard.
Fill Tree Holes
Again, this is all about reducing standing water.
Don’t attempt to substitute concrete, sand, or gravel.
These do not prevent water from collecting and can damage the tree.
Talk to Your Neighbors
Get them on board with mosquito prevention tactics.
Mention that to your neighbor so they can make their yard (and yours) less attractive to mosquitoes.
“Climate change can change the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes,” Fonseca says.
Here are some ways to deter or remove them.
Spray Repellant
For mosquito repellant, anything DEET-based is most effective at keeping mosquitos away.
Rather than killing them, DEET just makes it hard for them to smell humans.
Bird feeders and baths ensure that birds have a comfortable place to hang out.
If you have a pond, several types of fish consume mosquitoes, such as goldfish and bluegills.
“A mosquito can figure out a way,” Fonseca says.
“I got bit on my backthe mosquito used me as a shield from the fan.”
For one, those lemony citronella candles don’t hold a candle to other options for preventing mosquito bites.
A2017 studyfound that citronella candles do absolutely nothing to repel mosquitoes.
(Though they do smell nice for people if you want to light them for that reason.)
“We know very little about how effective private companies are,” she admits.
Commercial treatments may end up killing beneficial insects along with mosquitoes.
“Then you’re replacing a mosquito problem with a plant-based problem, with aphids and whiteflies increasing.”
In our testing, Off!
Active Insect Repellant was the best all-around option.
If you’re looking for a DEET-free option, EarthKind’s Stay Away Mosquitoes Insect Repellant also scored highly.
(Bonus: You’ll ensure the birds have fresher water too.)
Use a mosquito dunk.
Pop one of these into your bird bath monthly to kill off mosquitoes.
Just be sure to use a bacterial insecticide that won’t hurt your feathered friends.
Avoid the bite| alabama department of public health(Adph).
CDC.Fill tree holes to reduce mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes, ticks & other arthropods| cdc yellow book 2024.
Mosquito management - cooperative extension: insect pests, ticks and plant diseases - university of maine cooperative extension.
Cooperative Extension: Insect Pests, Ticks and Plant Diseases.
