How do I deter mosquitos from my yard?

Question

How do I deter mosquitos from my yard?

Answer 1

this combo works wonders.

1) get rid of standing water, as mentioned by other users. This is key as they actively seek out standing water for reproduction.

2) plant cedar trees. there is something in cedar trees that mosquitos do not like. In fact, a Canadian man years ago had developed a bug spray made with some sort of cedar extract. It was purchased by a large bugspray company like Off! or something and was covered up. long story short, cedar works.

3) on your deck or any hard surface: poor some Listerine and mop it onto the whole surface letting it dry. they HATE that stuff for some reason.

Answer 2

Do not use a bug zapper! They are not effective against mosquitoes and are likely to kill beneficial insects (like dragonflies which feed on mosquitoes).

Scientific studies indicate that mosquitoes make up a very small percentage of bug zapper collections. Comparison trapping has also shown no significant difference in mosquito populations in yards with and without the traps. Biting insects, in general, make up less than 1 percent of the insects killed in zappers.

I wish I could find the research that backs this up, but I've read this in several places.

Answer 3

Remove any standing pools of water. Mosquitoes breed there.

Lowes and Home Depot sell sprayer machines that will eliminate insects like mosquitoes over a period of time.

Burn citronella candles in the evening hours

use an electronic zapper

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

The single most important PREVENTATIVE measure is get rid of standing water.  Any standing water---even a small quantity.  Check for pop cans/bottles, lids, barrels, tires, pieces of plastic, buckets, cans, planters, pots, garbage cans, etc.  

If you've got an abundance of mosquitoes, there is standing water nearby....guaranteed.  Start looking.

Natural predators of mosquito's are bats and birds.  Erect a bat house and a Purple Martin house.  

Burn citronella torches if you're outside at night.

Plant mosquito repelling plants: citronella grass, marigolds, catnip, rosemary, mint, garlic, and "mosquito plant."

Answer 5

I recently heard that Listerine (yep, Listerine), sprayed around the yard and outdoor seating areas will deter mosquitoes.  couldn't hurt to try, right?

Answer 6

Find where they live and kill them. Typically, they form in low lying wet spots. Mine form where the gutters run out and water pools. Spray bleach water there and fill in any holes that pool water. I bought a zapper at lowes for $40, money well spent.

Answer 7

Install a bat house.  

http://www.batconservation.org/content/B...

One Little Brown Bat can eat 600 mosquitoes an hour.  Imagine if you had 30 bats in your bat house?  They would possess the capability of consuming up to 18,000 mosquitoes in one hour. The bug zapper's got nothin' on that!!!  

They are also fun to watch.  

Nature's way of handling itself.

Mine is up and waiting for the bats to occupy it.

http://www.batconservation.org/content/H...