Backyard Mosquito Repellent: What Are Your Best Options?

Summer is in full swing and that means backyard barbecues, pool parties, and spending time outdoors. But it also means pesky mosquitoes. Mosquitoes can ruin a good time, so it’s important to have a plan to keep them at bay. In this blog post, we will discuss the best backyard mosquito repellent options available to you. We’ll cover natural remedies, chemical-based repellents, and electronic deterrents. So whether you’re looking to protect yourself or your guests, we have you covered!

What Draws Mosquitoes To Your Yard?

There are a few things that can attract mosquitoes to your yard, such as:

Standing Water:

Mosquitoes need water to lay their eggs, so standing water is like a buffet for them. Mosquitoes don’t need a wheelbarrow full of water or a whole pond to reproduce. They can lay their eggs in as little as a bottle cap’s worth of water!

It can be hard to get rid of every source of standing water in your yard, so it’s important to know about some of the most common ones, which you might not know about.

Grass And Shrubs:

Did you know that the wind is one of mosquitoes’ biggest enemies? Mosquitoes will often hide in things that are lying around on your lawn to avoid even the slightest breeze.

If you leave bundles of sticks or piles of branches in your yard, mosquitoes will be more likely to hang out there. When bushes and other natural areas are left to grow out of control, mosquitoes can hide from the wind in these places.

Even grass that is too tall can give mosquitoes a place to hide. Mosquitoes are also attracted to the following common yard waste:

• Grass clippings
• A lot of plants
• Raked leaves
• Compost piles
• Hollow trees
• Storm drains

Mosquitoes like to hide in tall grass and shrubs, so trimming your lawn regularly can help deter them.

Light:

Believe it or not, mosquitoes are attracted to light. Mosquitoes are most active at dawn and dusk, so they are drawn to lights that are left on during these times.

So if you have a lot of outdoor lights, consider switching them off at night.

Pet’s drinking container:

The water bowl for your pet should never be left outside for long periods of time. The mosquitoes will come right to your house because the water is still and clean. The same is true of bird baths, which hold shallow, still water where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. Even though the birds are pretty, insects such as mosquitos, fleas and June beetles are not.

Commonly Found Harmful Mosquito In The Backyard 

Asian Tiger Mosquito

One of these is the Asian tiger mosquito, which got into the U.S. by unfortunate incident in the 1980s. Ever since, it has spread to many places, including Delaware, and is now the most annoying mosquito in our gardens. This small mosquito is easy to spot because it has bright white spots on a black body, a single white stripe on its upper back, and white stripes on its legs.

It often bites their lower legs. It only bites during the day and stays within a few hundred yards of where it was born.

Because of this, people who work to get rid of mosquitoes came up with the saying, “If you breed them, you feed them.” This means that if mosquitoes breed in your yard, they are likely to find and feed on you first. We can mostly stop it by making it harder or impossible for it to breed in our yards and communities

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Common House Mosquito

The second most common backyard mosquito is the common house mosquito. It is also found in many places around the world, including Delaware. This mosquito is a little larger than the Asian tiger mosquito and has dark stripes on its legs.

The house mosquito does not fly as far from where it was born as the Asian tiger mosquito, but it can still travel up to five miles in search of food. It tends to bite people at night, which is when they are active.

While both of these are annoying, neither of them carries diseases that can harm humans in Delaware. But there are other types of backyard mosquitoes that can carry diseases like West Nile virus, so it’s important to be aware of all the different kinds of mosquitoes that might be in your area.

Mosquitoes Life Cycle

Over the course of her life, a woman can lay more than 700 eggs (which is just a few months). They can only mate with a male mosquito once, but that one time is enough for them to lay up to five eggs. They don’t even need a big house. A mosquito can lay up to 100 eggs in a space as small as the top of a bottle.

They have four different life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The first three stages depend on water, which is why it’s so important to have as little standing water as possible in your yard. They lay their eggs in water, and the mosquito larvae and pupae live on the water’s surface.

Eggs:

Most yard mosquito species lay their eggs in water, where they float until they hatch.

Larvae:

These young mosquito larvae, also called “wrigglers,” live in the water and come to the surface to breathe air through a tube-like structure on their back.

Pupae:

The pupal stage is when the mosquito changes into an adult.

Adult:

At this stage, the mosquito is ready to mate and begin the cycle all over again.

They can finally get out of the water. They live for about a week, and most of their food comes from the nectar of plants.

The female mosquitoes that bite you need blood to feed their eggs. They can live for up to six months. Some adult females go to sleep when the weather starts to get cooler. Most mosquito eggs can live through the winter.

Most yard mosquitoes only live for about two weeks, but some can live for months or even years. So it’s important to be vigilant about getting rid of standing water therefore kill mosquito larvae in your yard before it became an adult

Harmful Effects Of Insect Bites 

Dengue Fever:

Dengue fever is a disease caused by a virus that is spread by mosquitoes. It can cause severe flu-like symptoms, including high fever, joint pain, headaches, and muscle pain. In some cases, it can also lead to bleeding from the nose and gums, and in rare cases, death.

Zika Virus:

Zika virus is another virus that is spread by mosquitoes. It can cause mild flu-like symptoms, but it is most dangerous to pregnant women because it can cause birth defects in their babies.

West Nile Virus:

West Nile virus is a serious disease that can cause brain damage or even death. It is spread by mosquitoes that have been infected with the virus. Symptoms of West Nile virus include fever, headache, and muscle weakness. In severe cases, it can lead to coma or paralysis.

Malaria:

Malaria is a serious disease that is caused by parasites that are spread by mosquitoes. Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms. In severe cases, it can lead to death.

There are many different diseases that mosquitoes can spread, so it’s important to be aware of the dangers they pose. Mosquito bites can also cause allergic reactions in some people. If you have a reaction to a mosquito bite, it is important to see a doctor as soon as possible.

How To Prevent Mosquito Bites

Devoid Of Debris

If you have a collection of water in your yard, that’s a breeding ground for them. So getting rid of any stagnant water, whether it’s in a birdbath, kiddie pool or old tires, will help reduce the mosquito population. This is especially important in the summer months when they are most active.

Mosquitoes are attracted to dark, moist areas, so keeping your yard free of debris helps to create an environment that’s inhospitable to them. Tidying up will have a huge impact on the efficacy of future treatment.

If you choose to use a broad-spectrum insecticide, for example, there’s nothing stopping new adult mosquitoes from making their home there again. So if you want to enjoy your backyard this summer without dealing with pesky mosquitoes and ticks, make sure to keep it clean and debris-free.

Dethatch Your Lawn

Thatching is when dead grass and other organic matter build up in your garden. This can create a perfect environment for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. If you have a thatch problem, you’ll need to remove it before you can treat your mosquito problem.

You can rent a power detach from your local hardware store, or you can hire a professional to do it for you. Either way, getting rid of thatch will help reduce the mosquito population in your yard.

Mow Your Lawn Regularly

They like tall grass because it provides them with shelter from the sun and predators. So keeping your lawn mowed helps create an environment that’s less hospitable to them.

If you have a lot of mosquitoes in your yard, you may need to mow more often than usual. But even if you don’t have a mosquito problem, mowing your lawn regularly is a good way to keep it healthy.

Trim Bushes And Shrubs

Bushes and shrubs provide mosquitoes with the perfect place to hide during the day. So trimming them back helps create an environment that’s less hospitable to them.

If you have a lot of mosquitoes in your yard, you may need to trim them more often than usual. But even if you don’t have a mosquito problem, trimming your bushes and shrubs is a good way to keep them healthy.

Add Mosquito Repellent Plants To Your Landscape.

There are a number of mosquito repellent plants that are effective in repelling mosquitos. Some of the most popular options in repelling mosquitos, sand flies, gnats and other insects include citronella, marigolds, and catnip.

Adding these plants to your landscape is a great way to keep or kill ants, ticks, flies, bees and pests away from your patio home. And since they’re all-natural, you don’t have to worry about them harming you or your family.

The best places for these plants are “hot spots,” or places where mosquitoes tend to gather. Places with shade, like the front porch or back patio, or places with water, like around water features or in low spots on the land, are great.

Mosquito-repelling Plants:

• Citronella
• Bee balm 
• Lavender
• American beautyberry
• Catnip
• Marigolds
• Lemon Eucalyptus
• Peppermint

Use Backyard Mosquito Repellants.

Chemical Repellent:

If you’re looking for a more effective option to repel bugs, you may want to consider using chemical-based mosquito repellents such as bug spray, cutter backyard bug control in preventing mosquitoes. These products typically contain DEET or picaridin and are very effective at keeping mosquitoes away.

Just keep in mind that these products can be harmful to humans and animals if they’re not used properly. So be sure to follow the instructions on the label carefully.

An insecticide is a chemical that is highly toxic to some pest you put in your yard to kill mosquitoes, their eggs, and their young. This is usually the last thing that is tried. Insecticides have chemicals in them that can cause skin irritation, hurt good bugs like bees and butterflies, and hurt the environment. But they are a good way to get rid of mosquitoes.

Most insecticides use Pyrethrins or pyrethroids, which are made from Pyrethrins. It will take a few applications spread out over a few weeks to kill or repel mosquitoes. Follow the directions for your product at all times.

Best Mosquito Repellents

Broad-spectrum Insecticide:

This type of insecticide is made of Permethrin, Tau-fluvalinate, Deltamethrin , Lambda-cyhalothrin

To lessen the bad effects, only backyard bug control spray insecticide in places where they like to hang out (shady and wet places).

You can figure out how much area you’ll be spraying by multiplying the length by the width of each section and then adding them all up.

How to compute:

You can figure out how much product you need by multiplying the area you’ll be spraying by the amount of product recommended for 1,000 square feet and then dividing by 1,000.

Let’s say you’re spraying 100 square feet. And 8 ounces of the product is enough to treat 1,000 square feet.

Products that contain these ingredients will usually say “for backyard mosquito control” on the label. You can find them at your local hardware store or online.

Guidelines:

Follow the instructions that come with the concentrate to figure out how many gallons of water you’ll need to mix it with. Permethrin SFR, which is a popular concentrate, is a good example. One gallon of water should be mixed with every 1.23 ounces of the product. To figure out how many gallons of water to use, multiply 1.23 by the number of ounces you need.

If it’s less than 1 ounce, a 1 gallon pump sprayer is easier to use. You can buy these online or at stores that sell home and garden supplies.

Use a hose-end sprayer if you have more than 1 ounce.

Hose End Sprayer:

Hose end sprayer is easy to use. Just follow the directions on the package.

What you’ll need:

• a yard mosquito repellent product that contains Permethrin or Tau-fluvalinate
• a pump sprayer or hose end sprayer
• water
• protective clothing (long sleeves, pants, gloves, and a mask)

Directions:

The first thing you need to do is mix the concentrate with water according to the instructions on the label. Once you’ve done that, put on your protective clothing.

Next, attach the pump sprayer or hose end sprayer to your garden hose and turn it on. Start spraying at one end of your yard and work your way around until you’ve covered the entire area.

Be sure to spray the underside of leaves and any other areas where they like to hide.

Once you’re finished, turn off the sprayer and detach it from the hose. Take off your protective clothing and wash it separately from your other clothes.

You should also wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.

Electric Mosquito Traps:

These devices lure them with a fan and then zap them with an electric current. They’re small enough to be used indoors or out, and they’re safe around children and pets.

You can find these traps at home improvement stores or online.

To use one of these devices, you’ll need to put it in an area where they are active and plug it in. The device will do the rest.

Keep in mind that these traps won’t completely eliminate them from your yard. But they can help reduce the population.

Citronella Candles:

These candles are non toxic and contain a plant-based oil that repels them. They’re safe to use around children and pets, but they need to be lit to work.

You can find citronella candles at most home improvement stores and online.

As protection, use these candles, and place them in an area where you’ll be spending time. The candle will do the rest.

Citronella candles are a great way to enjoy your yard without worrying about them.

Just remember to blow out the candle when you’re done using it.

Fogging:

Fogging is a method of patio or yard mosquito control that’s usually done by professionals. It involves using a machine to dispense an insecticide into the air. The insecticide then settles on surfaces and kills mosquitoes all over outdoor spaces including patio, deck including breeding grounds of mosquitoes and gnats.

Fogging is effective, but it can be dangerous if not done correctly. That’s why it’s important to hire a professional who has experience with this method of patio and yard mosquito control.

Steps In Using Fogging For Bug Control:

• Talk to your neighbors and let them know you’ll be fogging.
• Turn off any fans or air conditioners that could spread the insecticide.
• Cover any fish ponds or other water features.
• Make sure everyone in your home knows to stay inside during the fogging process.
• After the fogging is complete, open all of the doors and windows in your home to ventilate it.
• You should also cover any exposed food and wash all of your dishes.

Repellant Pad:

Mosquito repellent pad is a device that you can attach to your clothing. They contain a chemical that repels mosquitos.

You can find mosquito repellent pads at most home improvement stores and online.

To use one of these devices, simply attach it to your clothing or clip it onto your belt. The device will do the rest.

Keep in mind that these devices won’t completely eliminate mosquitos from your yard. But they can help reduce the population.

Frequently Asked Questions

How To Choose An Insect Spray

Which bugs are you trying to kill? Some insect repellents work on all kinds of bugs and insects such as ticks, bees, and mosquitos.

How much space do you want to cover? Some products that keep bugs away only protect you, while others protect the whole yard.

Are you ready to work with chemicals? Some bug sprays are made with chemicals and should be used with care, while others are made from natural ingredients.

When Are They Most Active?

At dusk and dawn, when the sun isn’t too bright, they look for people to bite. When the temperature goes above 50 degrees, they start to have babies or come out of hibernation.

Any changes to your landscape can be hard to handle by yourself. A professional landscaping company can help you make changes to your patio, yard and keep it in good shape. Insecticides can be taken care of by a professional who deals with pests.

How Often Should You Put Mosquito Repellent On Again?

It depends. The EPA says that you should carefully read the labels on any repellents you use and follow the instructions on how much to use and how often. Also, think about things like how much water it gets (swimming, for example)

if you are sweating from exercise

how hot or cold it is outside

Follow the directions on the package for how to put on and reapply the product. This will help you get the best mosquito protection.

How To Treat Insect Bites

If you get insect bites, there are a few things you can do to relieve the itchiness and swelling.

First, try not to scratch the bite. This will only make it worse.

You can also put a cold compress on the bite or take an antihistamine to help with the itching.

If you’re still having trouble, talk to your doctor about other options.

When Should I Call A Professional?

There are some cases where it’s best to call in a professional. If you have a lot of mosquitos in your yard, if you’re pregnant or have a young child, or if you have any concerns about using mosquito repellent, it’s best to talk to your doctor or a pest control specialist.

When asking for the service of a professional, be sure to ask about their qualifications, experience, and what kind of service they provide. Also, be sure to ask about the price of the service.

Pest control companies can provide you with a variety of services in controlling mosquitoes, from mosquito abatement to landscape design. Be sure to ask about all the services they offer so you can find the best fit for your needs.

Conclusion

There are a variety of mosquito repellents to choose from. The best mosquito repellents for you will depend on your needs and preferences. Be sure to read the labels carefully and follow the instructions to ensure that you’re using the product correctly.

Most importantly, don’t forget to enjoy your patio and yard! mosquito-free.

Now that you know more about sprayed mosquito repellents, you can make an informed decision about which option is best for you. Whether you choose an electric trap, citronella candles, or another method, you can enjoy your patio and yard without worrying about mosquitos. Thanks for reading!