Mosquitoes can be some of the most annoying pests and can be very difficult to eliminate.
Mosquitoes can be some of the most annoying and dangerous pests. Their bites are irritating and they can carry and transport diseases. However, many different ways to alleviate the problem of mosquitoes in your yard are available, differing in the amount of work, effectiveness and cost. Does this Spark an idea?
Personal Insect Repellents
Personal insect repellents are very affordable and can be bought at local grocery stores, drug stores, hardware stores and many other places. These will not keep mosquitoes out of your yard, but will deter them from swarming around or biting your body. Most personal repellents come in a spray can and can be applied to the body and clothing. The most effective types of personal mosquito repellents contain the man-made chemical meant to protect people from bites called DEET.
Eliminate Breeding
Mosquitoes thrive around standing water and must have water to breed so it is important to eliminate any standing water in your yard. This is the most effective way to treat a mosquito problem because if they can't breed, their numbers will not grow. This doesn't mean that you can't have things like birdbaths, it just means that it is important to flush and refresh the water at least once a week. It is also a good idea to treat the water with a larvicide, or chemical that kills insect eggs. Don't forget to also check for standing water in or around boats, buckets, cans, jars, toys, leaky outside faucets, pet dishes, wagons, wheelbarrows, pots/planters and wading pools.
Bug Lights
Eliminating standing water and breeding sites will prevent further mosquito infestation, but you may already have adult mosquitoes living in your yard or coming from a neighbor's yard. There are a number of non-chemical treatments for getting rid of those adult mosquitoes. The easiest and cheapest are bug lights. Mosquitoes are nocturnal and are out in numbers at night and, like other nocturnal insects, are attracted to white light. Bug lights, unlike normal light bulbs, emit a yellow light that mosquitoes and other bugs are not as attracted to. So houses that use bug lights in fixtures outdoors generally have lower mosquito populations in their yards.
Carbon-Dioxide Traps
Another very effective non-chemical way to kill mosquitoes are carbon-dioxide traps. These types of traps are commonly used by public health workers in studying and controlling mosquito outbreaks; however, there are carbon-dioxide traps available for homeowners. Most that are available for use in private homes and yards use a light bulb to attract the mosquitoes and then a carbon-dioxide rig to create suction to pull the mosquitoes into the trap and kill them.
Pesticides
When mosquito numbers need to be reduced quickly, chemical pesticides are the most effective treatment. This is often necessary if you already have a mosquito problem and are planning on using the backyard for grilling, a party or anything where you are planning on spending a lot of time in the yard. The most effective and affordable of these treatments is called a 'home barrier treatment,' in which you spray any areas where mosquitoes may be resting during the day with an insecticide. This includes high grass, bushes, trees, under decks, on the sides of house, in gutters and anywhere else you may find mosquitoes in your yard. There are many brands of insecticides, but the most effective contain the chemicals bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, deltamethrin, lamda-cyhalothrin or permethrin. Make sure to follow all instructions that come with the insecticide, use rubber gloves while applying, and allow it plenty of time to become safe before allowing pets or people in any area that has been sprayed.
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