Itchy welts aside, many of us live or vacation in areas where mosquitoes can transmit viruses like West Nile, Zika, dengue and chikungunya, and parasitic illnesses like malaria. Still, because the roles they serve in these areas are minor, eliminating them from your yard will not adversely affect the ecosystem. In case you’re wondering, mosquitoes do serve a purpose - as pollinators and bird food. The jury is out on whether the benefit can be attributed to the repellant properties of the active ingredient, the candle’s ability to mask the human scent or if the flame itself is the deterrent. Various research studies have shown citronella candles containing lemongrass oil provide mild-to-moderate protection. Merely having such a plant in the garden or a pot will not provide any benefit. But they’re not effective unless those compounds are released, such as by crushing the leaves. So-called “mosquito plants” and other plants marketed as repellents do, indeed, contain oils or chemicals that the insects find unappealing.
In addition, such applications would need to be repeated multiple times per season. You’ll keep cooler, too.Īvoid using insecticidal foggers or sprays, which threaten essential pollinators and other beneficial insects while controlling only a small portion of the adult mosquito population.
It works by literally blowing the insects away and dispersing our exhaled carbon dioxide, which would otherwise attract them. Running a standing or box fan at high speed will significantly reduce mosquito activity on your porch, deck or patio. Mosquitoes also like to hunker down among weeds and overgrown vegetation. Replace water and add a fresh dunk every 30 days to thwart future generations of mosquitoes. The decomposing organic matter will attract the insects, which will lay eggs on the treated water.
For large infestations, tuck several buckets around the yard. If you don’t have a pond or bird bath, you can make a DIY mosquito trap: Add a handful of straw, hay or grass clippings to a (preferably dark-colored) pail filled with water, and let it sit for 1-2 days. The product is also effective against black flies and fungus gnats.īti comes in various forms, including donut-shaped briquettes called “Mosquito Dunks.” The floating rings offer 30 days of protection and “will not harm people, pets and other animals, aquatic life, or other insects, including honeybees,” according to the CDC. Several strains of Bt are available, each targeting different insects, so be sure to buy the israelensis strain to target mosquitoes. Drain or dump water as you see it, even if the amount appears insignificant, and drill drainage holes in the bottoms of vessels like tire swings.įor water that’s intended to stand, such as in ponds and bird baths, the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) is a safe and effective way to kill mosquito larvae. Even the most diligent among us will likely find water collected in a children’s playset, tire, clogged gutter, pot saucer, overturned trash can lid or flying disc toy. Inspect your property for standing water. Mosquitoes need only one-quarter inch of water to breed - and a female can lay hundreds of eggs at a time. With the exception of those who live near a lake, marsh or swamp - or in densely packed neighborhoods - most of the blame for mosquito invasions usually falls on the property’s residents. Just about everyone who spends any time outdoors will be bothered by the bloodsucking party poopers at one point or another.Īlthough it may seem difficult to avoid mosquitoes, there are several easy measures you can take to reduce or eliminate them from your yard and garden. You must protect your colony from the threat that lies at the heart of the land.Life comes with lots of little annoyances, few of them littler or more annoying than mosquitoes. Under the dark eaves of the trees, sinister shadows lurk, ready to strike at the unwary. Life in the Wildwood is constant give and take: there is both a bounty of resources to harvest and endless challenges to overcome. Meet a personality-filled cast of unique cats and bring back gifts from your travels to make friends! Build and customize your colony’s base of operations and attract new residents to grow a prosperous community. Prowl through dense forests, murky swamps, rocky highlands, and sandy beaches in search of rare herbs and delicious prey. Become a cat! Experience life as a feral feline in a strange wilderness.
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