3 min readThere’s nothing like relaxing in your backyard after work, maybe with a refreshing beverage in hand, until that all-too-familiar buzzing sound creeps close to your ear and you feel a sudden itchiness on your arm or ankle. Mosquitoes are probably the most irredeemable outdoor pests that hang around your yard—they poke you, carry diseases, and they don’t even pollinate your flowers like bees do. So, if you’re curious about how to get rid of mosquitoes, you came to the right place.
“Mosquitoes have adapted well to their environment,” explains David Price, associate certified entomologist and technical director at Mosquito Joe. “While the females only live from 32 to 45 days, they can lay 200 eggs over the course of a few days, up to three times in their lifetimes, to ensure survival of the next generation." Under ideal conditions, mosquitoes can complete their life cycle in as little as 10 days.
Keep reading to find out how to get rid of mosquitoes, and thank us later.
Additional copy by Meghan Shouse.
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs, and it doesn’t have to be much. “Even a bottle-cap-sized amount of water is sufficient,” says Price. Any water that sits undisturbed for a few days is welcoming to them. Dump out saucers underneath flower pots, pet bowls, buckets, and kiddie pools. Watch for low spots in the yard where water from rain or irrigation puddles; these should be filled in with soil, so water can’t accumulate. Clean gutters so water drains properly, and ensure that rain barrels have covers. Dump out and refill fountains and bird baths every day or so with fresh water, and drill holes in tire swings or recycling bins that are left outdoors.
Trim Back Overgrown Lawns and Shrubs
Mosquitoes don’t like full sun, which will cause them to become dehydrated, so they prefer to hang out in tall grass and shrubs, says Price. Keep your lawn at the appropriate height for your type of grass, and trim bushes, especially near seating areas, so they don’t have a place to lie in wait for you.
Run a Fan
Interestingly, mosquitoes are not great fliers, says Price. They can only fly about 1 mile per hour and don’t like wind, which is another reason they like to hang out in protected areas of your yard. “If you set up a fan to run on low every time you’re on the patio to get air circulating, that will help a lot,” says Price. Place a fan at ground level, or install permanent overhead fans in covered porch settings.
Be Realistic
DIY fogging devices can eliminate mosquitoes in an outdoor area temporarily, but you will kill beneficial insects, too, which isn’t the best solution. Or you can hire a mosquito control company for regular applications of other products, such as essential oils. As for citronella candles, plants, or other gadgets, they’re not scientifically proven to be effective. In fact, in one study on bug zappers, just 0.13 percent of the insects killed were female mosquitoes, which are the ones that bite.
Don’t Forget the Repellent
If you want a surefire layer of protection, insect repellents are your best bet. Some people really are more attractive to mosquitoes, and researchers still are trying to figure out why. In the meantime, protect yourself by applying repellents that contain 20 to 30 percent DEET. Or try a newer formulation containing picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus (OLE) on exposed skin. Clothing products with repellents impregnated into the fabric are also available; the protection lasts through many washes. Finally, if you do get bitten, calm the itchiness by applying an ice pack or hydrocortisone cream.
