Mosquito bites are annoying, but they can be prevented. Most people know that mosquitoes love standing water and dark places, but did you know that they also love carbon dioxide and that the heat of your breath attracts them?
Mosquitoes are always on the lookout for their next meal, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your yard or garden at all times.
| Key Takeaways |
|---|
| Mosquitoes can be repelled using both natural and chemical methods. |
| Controlling standing water is an effective way to prevent mosquitoes from breeding. |
| Mosquitoes can carry and transmit several dangerous diseases. |
| There are many different products and strategies available for repelling and killing mosquitoes. |
| It is important to follow any instructions carefully when using chemical mosquito repellents or pesticides. |
Here are some tips for how to get rid of mosquitoes:
Using Permethrin
Permethrin is a chemical that kills insects. It’s not toxic to humans, but it can be harmful to cats and dogs.
If you have pets, it’s important to keep them away from areas where permethrin has been sprayed using this technique.
Permethrin is safe when used correctly in small amounts on clothing, shoes, and camping gear—but it should never be sprayed directly on the skin because of its toxicity.
If you’re looking for additional tips on how to keep mosquitoes away from your home and yard, be sure to check out our guide on proven ways for keeping mosquitoes away. These tips can help you enjoy your outdoor spaces without being bothered by pesky mosquitoes.
Planting Citronella Plants
The first step to getting rid of mosquitoes is to plant citronella plants.
Citronella is an essential oil, which means it can be applied in a variety of ways, including burning candles and using mosquito repellents made with citronella.
Some people even make their own natural remedies by steeping the leaves in water or rubbing them on their skin. Citronella’s strong scent helps keep mosquitoes away because they’re attracted to other scents (such as sweat), but not this one!
| Plant | Description |
|---|---|
| Citronella | Lemon-scented plant that contains citronella oil, a natural insect repellent. |
| Catnip | A member of the mint family that contains nepetalactone, a natural insecticide. |
| Marigold | Brightly colored flowers that contain pyrethrum, a natural insecticide. |
| Lavender | Fragrant plant that can repel mosquitoes and other insects. |
| Rosemary | Herb with a strong scent that can be effective at repelling mosquitoes. |
Using a Mosquito Trap
Mosquito traps are effective at attracting mosquitoes. Mosquito traps use light to attract mosquitoes, and they can be used indoors or outdoors.
Mosquito traps are safe for the environment. They do not use chemicals that could harm humans or animals, and they do not produce any fumes or odors that may irritate you or your family members.
Mosquito traps are easy to use. You simply place the trap in an area where you would like to reduce mosquito populations (such as your backyard), turn it on and leave it alone!
The trap will begin attracting mosquitoes within hours of being turned on, and will continue doing so until all of the insects have been caught by its netting material inside of its food well (which holds up to 7 days).
Whether you prefer natural or chemical repellents, our guide on easy and effective ways to repel mosquitoes has got you covered. From essential oils to DEET, this article covers all you need to know to keep those mosquitoes away
Eliminating Standing Water
To prevent mosquitoes from breeding, you can eliminate standing water. When a female mosquito lays her eggs, she does so in stagnant water. Mosquito larvae can survive for many months by living in this type of habitat.
If you have an above-ground pool that is not in use, drain it completely and clean it out once per week to avoid mosquitoes from breeding there. Mosquito eggs can also be found in discarded tires and large containers that have been filled with rain water.
This step is the most difficult one to take because people tend to leave standing water around the house or yard without realizing how bad it is for their health and safety when they do this over time!
| Source of Standing Water | Solution |
|---|---|
| Flowerpots | Fill the saucers with sand or gravel. |
| Bird Baths | Change water every few days. |
| Pool Covers | Use a pump to remove water after rain. |
| Old Tires | Store them inside or drill holes to drain water. |
| Clogged Gutters | Clean them regularly to prevent water buildup. |
Mosquito Repellent Plants
If you’re looking to make your yard mosquito-free, you might want to consider planting some plants that repel mosquitoes.
Mosquitoes are attracted to the CO2 released from our skin and breath, so having a few plants around will help keep them away. Here are a few plants that can help:
Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus): This is one of the most popular natural repellents for mosquitoes. It’s also known as lemongrass or Java grass and has long been used in candles and incense sticks because of its strong scent.
If you don’t want the inconvenience of burning citronella candles every night, simply plant some near your front door during mosquito season.
The plant is hardy enough to withstand frost and grows up to 2 feet tall in less than six months with regular watering and pruning. Keep an eye out for lemon scented geraniums if you’re looking for something more decorative than green foliage!
Scented Geraniums (Pelargonium spp.): These perennials have flowers ranging from white through red with leaves that have a strong citrus scent when crushed or rubbed between fingers. The flowers attract butterflies while repelling flies, mosquitos and other pests which makes these beautiful ornamentals great additions to any garden!
Choose from over 100 varieties including apple scented pink hibiscus or lime green rosemary scented geraniums–you’ll love how easy these plants are care for too!
Mosquito Sprays & Foggers
If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your home, then mosquito sprays and foggers are an effective option.
They contain chemicals that kill mosquitoes on contact, and are considered safe when used as directed. Mosquito sprays and foggers can be used inside or out:
Indoor use: To kill adult mosquitoes in a room, simply turn off all fans and air conditioners before spraying the product throughout the space.
Close doors and windows so that no flying insects get into other rooms while you spray. Be sure not to inhale any fumes from these products—they may irritate your lungs if you breathe them in!
Outdoor use: Mosquito sprays can also be sprayed around outdoor areas like porches or patios where people gather most often during evenings or those hot summer nights when we’d rather be outdoors than stuck indoors with those pesky bugs buzzing around our heads all night long…
Mosquito bites can be itchy and uncomfortable, but our guide on easy tips for getting rid of mosquito bites can help you find relief. From ice packs to oatmeal baths, this article covers some of the best remedies for mosquito bites.
Mosquito Zappers
Mosquito zappers are devices that use light to attract and kill mosquitoes. They work by attracting mosquitoes with a light and then electrocuting them with a grid of wires. Although these devices are effective at killing mosquitoes, they can also kill other insects such as bees, wasps, dragonflies and even birds.
If you decide to use a mosquito zapper in your home or backyard make sure that it is placed away from doors or windows where bugs may escape inside the house.
Since some people find the buzzing sound of these devices unpleasant, you should place them far from living areas so that you don’t have to hear it when you’re trying to relax on the porch or in your yard after dark.
| Type | Description |
|---|---|
| UV Light Zappers | Attracts and zaps insects using UV light. |
| Bug Zapper Racket | Hand-held electric racket that kills mosquitoes on contact. |
| Flowtron Zappers | Electric devices that use UV light to attract and zap mosquitoes. |
| Indoor Zappers | Small electric zappers designed for indoor use. |
| Solar-Powered Zappers | Zappers powered by solar panels, which can be used outdoors. |
Keeping Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard
- Keep your yard well-mowed.
- Keep the grass short.
- Trim shrubbery and bushes regularly, as well as leaves that have fallen from trees. Mosquitoes prefer to lay eggs in tall grasses and other vegetation.
Rake up dead leaves and other debris in your yard or on your porch or patio; it will make the area less hospitable for mosquitoes to lay their eggs there later on in the year when they hatch out into larvae.
Cover trash cans with a lid (or use an airtight container) so that no food waste can be left around for mosquitoes to feed on—they’re attracted to rotting meat just like we are!
It’s best if you don’t leave trash outside overnight either: put it inside before bedtime so there isn’t any potential for attracting pests like this one here today; otherwise you might get bitten by something else besides just being annoyed by them flying around near where you stand while waiting outside at night trying not get stung!
If you’re looking to keep mosquitoes away from your yard, our guide on solving the problem of mosquitoes in your yard has got you covered. From removing standing water to planting mosquito-repelling plants, this article provides practical tips for keeping your outdoor spaces mosquito-free.
Planting Catnip in Your Garden
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is an herb that can be grown as a perennial in USDA zones 4 through 9. This herb has small clusters of white flowers, smooth square stems and leaves with scalloped edges that are pale green on top and whitish or grayish green underneath.
Catnip grows best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade. It can grow up to 2 feet high and spreads out about 18 inches wide if left unpruned, so it’s ideal for planting in a container if you have limited space for gardening.
Catnip has been used as a natural mosquito repellent since ancient times but few people know this useful fact because it doesn’t work quite like most other botanical insect repellents such as citronella oil or eucalyptus oil you don’t rub catnip on yourself or put it around the perimeter of your yard to keep bugs at bay; rather, plant it near where you’d normally hang out when mosquitoes are bothering you!
Wearing Protective Clothing
- Wear long sleeves and pants.
- Wear light-colored clothing, as mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors. Mosquitoes can see the ultraviolet range of light, making you glow if you wear black or dark clothing.
- Wear a hat when outdoors in order to cover up your head and keep insects away from your ears and neck.
- Avoid wearing perfume or cologne while outdoors because they can attract more mosquitoes than usual
Keeping the Home Well-Vented
Keeping your home well-ventilated can help reduce the number of mosquitoes that you’re exposed to.
You should try to keep windows and doors closed as much as possible. If you must open doors or windows for ventilation, be sure to use screens on your windows so that mosquitoes cannot enter.
If there is a lot of standing water outside in your yard or on the ground near where you live, this could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
You may want to consider draining some of these areas if possible, such as by digging small drainage channels around them or adding gravel over top of them so that water does not pool there any longer.
Mosquitoes also need stagnant water sources for laying eggs; therefore keeping rain gutters clean will help prevent the growth of mosquito larvae during rainy seasons when they are most active outdoors at night (when people are more likely trying their best sleeping).
You should try opening all indoor windows when going out at night: this allows fresh air into the house while preventing insects from entering indoors along with it!
Looking to get rid of sand fleas? Our guide on explained ways to get rid of sand fleas provides some helpful tips for keeping these pests at bay. Whether you’re at the beach or enjoying the outdoors, these strategies can help you get rid of sand fleas and enjoy your time outside.
Conclusion
If you have a mosquito problem in your yard, it’s very important that you take the proper steps to get rid of them. They can be extremely annoying and cause health issues for you and your family if allowed to linger around for too long.
So, now that we’ve covered all the different methods out there for killing mosquitoes (and other bugs), it’s time to choose which one works best for your needs!
Further Reading
Controlling Mosquitoes at Home – A guide from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with tips for controlling mosquitoes and reducing your risk of mosquito-borne illnesses.
Best Ways to Get Rid of Mosquitoes – An article from This Old House that provides an overview of different mosquito control strategies, including natural and chemical options.
Get Rid Of Mosquitoes: The Best Repellents And Tips – A guide from Forbes that covers different types of mosquito repellents and offers tips for keeping mosquitoes away.
FAQs
Can mosquitoes carry diseases?
Yes. Mosquitoes can transmit several diseases to humans and animals, including malaria, dengue fever, Zika virus, and West Nile virus.
What are some natural ways to repel mosquitoes?
Common natural mosquito repellents include essential oils like citronella, lavender, and lemongrass, as well as garlic and certain types of plants like marigolds and catnip.
What are some chemical ways to repel mosquitoes?
Chemical mosquito repellents often include active ingredients like DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil. It’s important to follow the label instructions carefully when using any type of chemical repellent.
How do I get rid of standing water to reduce mosquito breeding?
Standing water should be emptied, removed, or covered to reduce mosquito breeding. This can include things like emptying pet dishes, removing used tires, and installing mosquito nets over rain barrels.
How long do mosquito repellents last?
The duration of mosquito repellents varies depending on the active ingredient and application. Generally, you should reapply the repellent every few hours or as directed by the specific product instructions.
Hello! I’m Hellen James, and I write about how to keep pests from invading your home. For the last 10 years, I’ve been working in pest control and am excited to share my expertise with you!
