Best Bug & Mosquito Sprays
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
How We Found the Best Bug & Mosquito Sprays
Bug & Mosquito Sprays We Reviewed:
Best Bug & Mosquito Sprays
When the warm summer months come along, all anyone wants to do is stay outside as long as possible. After being cooped up inside all winter, the sunshine and green grass practically call to us.
While our yards may look appealing, they can also be teeming with vicious insects that bite and ruin a perfectly pleasant day. Some of these insects are just annoying, but some can be harmful.
Mosquitos are probably one of the most infamous of the biting bugs. Their bites leave red, swollen bumps that are itchy and irritating. A few of these on your legs can make a great day outside a nightmare.
Fortunately, there are several products you can use to treat your outdoor area, killing and repelling insects like mosquitos. We have reviewed some of our favorites to help you choose one.
BEST OVERALL
Cutter Backyard Bug Control
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Easy to use
- Full yard coverage
- Targets mosquitos as well as ticks, fleas, fire ants, etc
- Affordable
- Convenient hose attachment
- Up to four weeks of mosquito protection
- Up to twelve weeks of protection for other insects
Cons
- Some may have trouble with the hose attachment
- Does not protect from mosquitos as long as other insects
Features & Specs
- 32 ounces
- Treats 5,000 square feet
- Up to 4 weeks protection
- Comes in packs of 1, 2, and 6
The Cutter Backyard Bug Control is an excellent product for total yard control of mosquitos and other biting or annoying insects. The bottle is enough to last for a whole summer so that you and your family can enjoy the warm weather outdoors.
This special 32-ounce spray bottle hooks up to your hose for easy distribution. Simply spray over the entirety of your yard for long-lasting protection. Each treatment lasts up to four weeks. In fact, this treatment will even withstand rain.
One bottle will cover as much as 5,000 square feet of space. There is no mixing involved; all you have to do is shake well, attach to the hose, and flip the switch to kill and protect against a variety of insects.
BEST ECO-FRIENDLY
Eco Defense Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Repellent
Pros
- Ready to use
- Plant based ingredients
- Toxic-free
- 60-day guarantee
Cons
- Needs a hose and water source
- Not as effective against a major infestation
Features & Specs
- Plant based ingredients
- 100% Guarantee for 60 days
- 8.5” x 5.4’ x 3”
- 2.5-pounds
- One container can cover up to 5,000 square feet
This spray is great at controlling all those annoying bugs in your yard without having to cover it in harsh chemicals. Eco Defense Flea, Tick, and Mosquito Repellent is plant based with naturally derived ingredients, and environmentally friendly. If you worry about your children and pets playing in the yard after you have sprayed it with pesticide, this is a great alternative for you; there is no wait time after application.
There’s no mixing involved, or lugging around huge, heavy containers. Simply attach a hose to the container and spray liberally around your property. One container can treat up to 5,000 square feet of yard space. Spraying your yard with Eco Defense will do away with most of the annoying and biting bug but is not harmful to the helpful insects in your yard like bees.
BEST FOR LARGE COVERAGE
FMC Talstar Professional
Pros
- It is biodegradable.
- It provides a fertilizer source too.
- It is safe to use around pets.
- It works as advertised.
- It repels a variety of pests.
Cons
- Will not solve a bee problem
Features & Specs
- 96 ounces (3/4 gallon)
- Indoor/outdoor
- 3 months residual protection
FMC Talstar Professional is an expertly formulated product that gives you long-lasting control for over 75 types of pests, including mosquitos, termites, spider, fleas, ticks, and so many more.
This is a multi-surface product, meaning it is safe to use both indoors and outdoors. Using around plants and gardens and even food-handling areas is safe.
While it fights off insects and pests with the initial application, it will also continue fighting these insects for up to three months afterward. This has great residual protection, and it is weather-resistant.
Just one gallon of this concentrated product will yield 32 to 96 finished gallons of spray.
BEST WITH PYRETHRIN
Envincio ExciteR Concentrate
Last update on 2023-03-21 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pros
- Very effective ingredients
- Controls more than 75 types of pests
- Kills on contact
- Residual protection
- One gallon yields up to 96 finished gallons
Cons
- Gallon sprayer required to use
- Must be mixed to use
Features & Specs
- 1 gallon
- 750 square fee
- Outdoor use
- 6% pyrethrin
- 60% Piperonyl Butoxide
This concentrated product uses 6% Pyrethrin as its active ingredient. This ingredient is a naturally occurring compound that organically kills insects.
This concentrated version of Pyrethrin can be used in a variety of locations, including yards, buildings, and animal areas. It is also safe to use on plants and in gardens.
To use, simply mix the concentrate with water per the instructions. Spray all over affected areas, including in cracks and crevices, for maximum protection. One gall will treat 750 square feet. You can use this product in sprayers and foggers and other solutions.

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Mosquitos have been referred to as the deadliest animal in the world. This is because certain species of them can carry deadly diseases.
Are They Effective?
When it comes to getting rid of insects, some of you may feel overwhelmed. A bug problem is no joke, and we understand that. It is for that reason that we have created a brief advice section to equip you with just a bit of knowledge that may help you better understand the issue at hand. Read on to learn a little more so you can make an informed decision!
About Insect Repellents
Mosquito repellents are products that keep mosquitos away. If mosquitos can’t get to you, they can’t bite you; that’s the goal. Most repellents are formulated to be used on bare skin, although there are repellents made specifically for clothing, equipment, and yard treatments.
Repellents come in many forms. The most common is a spray. However, you can also buy them in lotions, sticks, and aerosols.
A common ingredient used in mosquito repellents are DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, and picaridin. Several natural products use organic ingredients. Whether you use natural or synthetic is a matter of personal opinion.
Most repellents are meant to keep mosquitos away, as opposed to killing them. Some lawn treatments will act as both an eliminator and a repellent, but skin sprays will only repel.
Why Use Mosquito Repellent?
If you have ever been bitten by a mosquito, it probably will not take much to convince you to buy a repellent. However, there is a much more serious reason you should use repellents to protect from mosquitos.
Mosquitos have been referred to as the deadliest animal in the world. This is because certain species of them can carry deadly diseases. Mosquitos can carry these diseases without being harmed themselves, and when they bite us, they can transmit them to us; unlike the mosquitos, we can be affected.
Some diseases that can be transmitted by mosquitos are malaria, yellow fever, West Nile virus, and dengue. Around 700 million people are infected with mosquito-borne illnesses every year. These infections result in over one million deaths.
While the chances of you actually getting one of these diseases are not that high, it is simply not worth the risk. Use insect repellents not only for comfort reasons, but to protect yourself and your family from contracting a deadly disease.
About Mosquitos
We all know a mosquito when we see them – mostly because we see them land on our skin. These pesky insects feed on fruit and plant nectar, but they also feed on human blood. Actually, only the female mosquitos feed on blood. They do this because they need the protein in the blood to help develop their eggs.
Once they have their eggs, mosquitos will go to areas where there is water to lay them. Females can lay as many as 300 eggs at once. The eggs reside in the water as a means of further development. Once hatch, the mosquitos will spend the first ten days of their lives in the water feeding on organic matter.
From here, the mosquitos fly on to live out the rest of their life. Male mosquitos may only live a few days to a couple of weeks, but females can live for a couple of months. They will hibernate at temperatures lower than 50 degrees and come out when the temperatures reach around 80 degrees. This is why we only see them out in the summertime.
There are over 3,000 species of mosquitos in the world and about 200 species in the United States. Some of these species are known to carry diseases. While this is rare, we do know that a mosquito bite will almost always leave an itchy bump.