How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes

They also transmit hundreds of infectious diseases – some of them known for being deadly – more than any other insect or creature. Because of this, mosquitoes have been consistently studied as part of public health research.
Some of the diseases that mosquitoes can cause include encephalitis, elephantiasis, malaria, yellow fever, dengue, and others. These are all serious diseases that can cause extreme symptoms and fatalities if they aren’t treated with medical attention, so it’s always important to consult a doctor if you begin to feel sick after finding a mosquito bite.
While it’s easy to agree that mosquitoes are one of the worst types of pests, they do have their own important place within the ecosystem. Without them, they would disrupt the process of pollination and slowly eradicate several species of plants.
Physical Characteristics
Common Species of Mosquitoes

Anopholes Mosquitoes
How To Identify:
- Wing length can reach 2.8 to 4.4 mm
- Dark brown to black in color
- Have been found everywhere in the world except for Antarctica
- In addition to being vectors of malaria, they are also known to transmit elephentiasis in humans
- Like most other species of mosquito, Anopholes lay their eggs on the surface of water, so they’re usually more abundant during rainy seasons. They’re also more active late at night until just before dawn.
- Anopholes mosquitoes usually have a life cycle of about two weeks, during which a female can lay 50-200 eggs in standing water

Culex Mosquito
How To Identify:
- Adults usually reach around 4mm in length
- Color is light brown with darker wings, thorax and proboscis
- The Culex mosquito can’t survive in temperatures below freezing, so they’re found throughout the Southern U.S. in the winter and migrate slightly more North throughout the summer time.
- Like most other insects, the Culex species are most active at night and like to lay their eggs on standing water. They’re especially attracted to areas that flood easily and can hold water for one-two weeks.
- Culex mosquitoes can lay up to five rafts of eggs as long as they have access to standing water, which is why it is so important to mitigate the amount of moisture around your home.

Aedes Mosquitoes
How To Identify:
- Larger than most other mosquito species, adults can reach up to 10 mm in length
- Has characteristic white eyes and black and white stripes along its body and legs
- Like most other species of mosquitoes, the Aedes prefer warm, moist climates but can also be found along the East Coast up to New York.
- In addition to yellow fever, Aedes mosquitoes also tend to transmit dengue fever and encephalitis.
- The Aedes has unique behavior in comparison to other mosquitoes because they tend to bite more during the day as well as near sunrise and sunset.
- While the Aedes mosquito needs water to lay its eggs just like most other mosquito species, it tends to prefer cavities of water, such as tree holes, old tires, planters or other objects.

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Gather the Tools You’ll Need

protective clothing

bug spray

bucket

shovel
Step 1: Prepare Yourself for Safety

Step 2: Identify Areas With Standing Water

Step 3: Remove Water

Step 4: Create a Long-Term Plan

You should also develop a routine schedule where you clean up outside before and after it rains. Debris like leaves, branches and piles of wood can retain moisture and block your gutters and drainage ditches, so they’ll need to be continually removed. If you have objects in your yard that can’t be removed, like bird baths, ponds or pools, these can be taken care of by drilling your own drainage holes or investing in tarps and covers. If all else fails, a pest management professional will be able to develop an integrated pest management solution to help rid your property of mosquitoes.
Pro Tips
Like many stinging and biting insects, mosquitoes have earned a worldwide reputation for causing aggravation and much worse.
You can find them almost everywhere in the warmer months, so even in temperate regions. Not only do a million people worldwide die from mosquito-borne diseases every year, but they also transmit diseases and parasites to animals like dogs and horses. This makes it all the more important to know how keep this pest under control.
- Most mosquito-borne diseases start with flulike symptoms like fever, fatigue, and mild pain. If you experience any of these after finding mosquito bites, contact a medical professional immediately.
- Your pets can also be susceptible to mosquito-borne illnesses, so it’s important to keep them inside during the times when these pests are most active and continually pay attention to signs of illness.
- To keep mosquitoes from coming inside, install screens on your doors and windows and make sure they don’t have any holes. You can also set up a mosquito net around your bed during the seasons when they’re most prevalent so that you aren’t bitten in your sleep.
Risks of Mosquito-Borne Disease
Mosquitoes serve as vectors, or carriers, of many diseases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlined that the Zika virus, known for causing birth defects in fetuses and paralysis in rare cases of children and adults, is transmitted by two common mosquitoes, the Northern House Mosquito (Culex pipiens) and the Eastern Treehole Mosquito (Aedes triseriatus).
Malaria, a severe and sometimes deadly disease caused by a plasmodium parasite and exhibiting flu-like symptoms, is transmitted by around 30 to 40 species of mosquitoes. It reaches humans through female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. These females take bloodmeals to carry out egg production, which links the human and mosquito hosts in the parasite life cycle.
Besides Zika and malaria, mosquitoes pass along other serious illnesses:
- Chikungunya
- Dog heartworm
- Dengue fever
- Yellow fever
- Eastern Equine Encephalitis
- St. Louis Encephalitis
- LaCrosse Encephalitis
- Western Equine Encephalitis
- West Nile Virus
Common Mosquito Locations
Once they make their way indoors, they also frequently haunt bedrooms at night, which makes mosquito netting important in countries where the insect is prevalent. If you’re on the hunt for a good mosquito net for your bedroom, there are certainly types that keep out mosquitoes better than others.
During the day and later at night, mosquitoes tend to be less noticeable, since most species only come out to feed at these times. But since the Aedes species bites all the time, it is important to protect yourself throughout the day.

Puddles

Ditches

Ponds

Slow-moving streams

The best way to avoid a mosquito problem is to avoid a population in the surrounding area.
You can’t control the climate or standing water in your next-door neighbor’s yard, but you can make your yard less conducive to mosquito breeding, thus reducing the chance they’ll linger nearby and make their way inside your home.
Eliminate Standing Water
- Keep your gutters cleaned out so they drain properly.
- Hang tarps so they do not pool water, turn over old tires, and fill in unnecessary ditches.
- Get rid of anything that can act as a source of water.
- Ensure adequate drainage in your garden. Also be sure that potted plants, both indoors and out, never have standing water in the soil or trays. If you cannot store water-collecting items inside or upside down, drill drainage holes in them so any accumulated water will always run through.
- If you keep rain barrels or other rain-collection devices in your yard, keep lids on them when no rain is falling. Some pooling may be inevitable despite your best efforts, so try to keep a regular schedule of dumping any standing water you find.
- Change water in birdbaths several times a week.
- Treat swimming pools, ponds, and any other bodies of water in your yard for larvae with formulas safe for people and animals. Periodically pull up a cup of water from these areas and check for the presence of larvae, and treat or call in a professional if necessary.
Keep in mind that not all mosquitoes need standing water to lay eggs. They just need water for the eggs to hatch. Eliminating standing water will help, but there is still a chance that you’ll have to take other measures to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard. All the same, chemical and natural approaches are much less effective when mosquitoes continue to have access to the breeding grounds that standing water represents.

There are many methods for repelling mosquitoes and reducing mosquito populations, but some are more effective than others.
There are also some herbal and natural approaches worth trying. The best way to avoid being bitten is simply to repel mosquitoes by protecting yourself with bug spray at all times.
Broadcast Treatments

There are also hose sprays with pyrethroid insecticides that can work on mosquitoes. These sprays should be applied to shady areas outside where mosquitoes hide in the daytime. Learn more about pyrethrin and the best mosquito products that contain pyrethrin, as well some of the best mosquito sprayers on the market.
Note that these applications are not appropriate for use indoors. Stay away from treated areas once you have applied the spray. A common approach is to create a perimeter mosquito barrier around the edge of the yard so that the space within it remains relatively mosquito-free.
Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Mosquito Dunks

Last update on 2023-06-08 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Liquid Larvicide

Bacterial Treatments

Natural and Non-Pesticide Approaches

Note: in dangerous areas, DEET is still preferable, and there are many products on the market that contain DEET. Please keep in mind that if you are in an area where mosquitoes carry dangerous diseases, such as Zika or dengue, it is prudent to choose a DEET repellent solution to ensure you have the best protection available. The EPA has studied DEET several times, most recently in 2014, and states, “We continue to believe that the normal use of DEET does not present a health concern to the general population, including children.”
Essential Oils

Coconut Oil

DIY Coconut Neem Recipe
INGREGIENTS
- 1 part coconut oil
- 1 part neem oil
DIRECTIONS
Mix the oils together and place them in a sealed container. You can continuously use the mixture, and unlike bug spray, the scent isn’t strong or unpleasant. You can even use it as a daily moisturizer so you won’t have to worry about putting on bug repellant later on.
Apple Cider Vinegar

DIY Vinegar Spray Recipe
INGREGIENTS
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 40 drops of citronella oil
DIRECTIONS
Shake the ingredients inside of your spray bottle and use the solution as an environmentally friendly, natural substitute to standard bug sprays.
Lemon Balm

Epsom Salt

Dryer Sheet

Coffee Grounds

Pennies
It’s been clinically proven that pennies left in small containers of water prevent mosquito larvae from developing out of eggs. These may not work for large bodies of water like ponds or reflecting pools, but may work for smaller containers like birdbaths and architectural elements.
Mosquito Traps and Zappers

Mosquito Magnet

Bug Zappers

Find out what the best brands of mosquito traps are, so you know you can rely on them when purchasing one at the store.
Last update on 2023-06-09 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Personal Protection

Mosquito Netting

Chemical Protection

Natural and DIY Applications

Garlic

Some other repellent methods include mosquito bracelets and mosquito candles, which often contain essential oils such as citronella. Mosquitoes may be an incredibly prevalent pest, but luckily there may have been so many different methods developed to deter them.
Protecting Your Pets

