Are mosquitoes buzz-buzz-buzzing all over your house? You’re probably thinking of a thousand different ways you want to put an end to that annoying, sleep-depriving sound. How about killing the problem from its root? If you want to reduce the number of mosquitoes on or near your property, you need to kill mosquito larvae. Here’s how to go about it.
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Kill Mosquito Larvae – Where You Can Find Mosquito Larvae
Before you go about getting rid of mosquito larvae, you’re probably wondering, “Where should I look?”
Still water is the ideal breeding environment for mosquitoes. The wrigglers are typically found around shallow, non-flowing water surfaces, where they feed mostly on microorganisms or algae.
We recommend you find any source of standing water in your house and try to get rid of it. You can find standing water in unexpected places. Mosquito larvae could be breeding in your lawn’s puddles, lawn equipment, pool covers, and other hidden areas.
You should also keep track of places where you can’t dispose of standing water. For instance, if you have a birdbath, you should change the water regularly.
For other instances where you have a pool or pond, we’ll provide you with some more practical solutions shortly.
Methods on How to Kill Mosquito Larvae
Seeing mosquito larvae can be off-putting. You’re probably thinking about ways to quickly rid your pool or pond of these little critters. Here are some fool-proof tactics you can follow to kill mosquito larvae.
Bring Out the Larvicide
- Kills mosquitoes before they're old enough to bite
- The only product with bti, bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae
- Lasts for 30 days and treats 100 square feet of surface water
For a quick and easy fix, we recommend using a larvicide. Larvicides will quickly and effectively kill mosquito larvae invading your pool, pond, and other standing water sources.
There are various types available to use, including:
- Mosquito dunks are effective in killing mosquito larvae near any standing water source. The active ingredient in this type of larvicide is a bacteria called, Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or BTI.
BTI is a naturally occurring organism that only kills three species of insects, one of them being mosquitos. You don’t have to worry about any environmental damage occurring due to the use of BTI, as this type of bacteria doesn’t affect humans, animals, or even plants. Mosquito dunks will last you up to a month.
- Methoprene is another larvicide commonly used to kill mosquito larvae. Methoprene is laced with insect growth regulators that inhibit the mosquito’s life cycle. This larvicide is capable of killing other species of insects as well. Methoprene will provide 3-4 weeks of protection from mosquito larvae.
Using Oils
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Mosquito larvae need the surface of still water to breathe oxygen. What better way to block that source of fresh air than with some hydro-phobic oil.
You can use olive oil as well as other vegetable oils to suffocate these pests. All you have to do is spray your standing water surface with the oil until there’s a visible sheen, and just let it do its job.
Another oil that has been known to be more effective at killing mosquito larvae is none other than cinnamon oil. According to researchers, the components found in cinnamon oil, such as cinnamaldehyde, have proven fatal to mosquito larvae.
With cinnamon oil, you also get the added advantage of a pleasant smell. Simply use a solution of 15% cinnamon oil to 85% water and pour the mixture into the infested area.
Although oils are a successful tactic to kill mosquito larvae, they can also kill other organisms in their way. If you have a fish pond, using oils will block oxygen from the water’s surface, which, in turn, can suffocate the fish.
Using Mosquito-Eating Fish
Speaking of fish, some species feast on mosquito larvae. We recommend you use the natural food chain to your advantage and add some fish to the mix. Not only will you enjoy having new pets, but you also won’t spend much on fish food since your new pets will be helping you get rid of larvae.
Some mosquito-eating fish include guppies, koi, goldfish, bluegill, and catfish. If you’re looking for the most suitable fish, we recommend the Gambusia, fittingly known as mosquitofish. These larvae-loving fish can eat up to hundreds of mosquito larvae in one day.
Apple Cider Vinegar
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If you’re opting for a more natural approach, then apple cider vinegar may just be the way to go. Even though this natural choice will kill mosquito larvae, it’s not as effective as the other options presented.
Apple cider vinegar can take up to 18 hours to work, whereas other methods almost work instantaneously. Nevertheless, for this method to properly work, you’ll need to use a solution of 15% apple cider vinegar to 85% water.
Bleach
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If you’ve absolutely exhausted every method mentioned above, then your last resort should be using bleach. The harmful chemical is fatal to most living organisms, making it the least environmentally-friendly option.
We advise that you proceed with caution while using bleach. Make sure no living organisms are dwelling in the standing water, apart from the larvae, of course.
All you need to do is use one tablespoon of bleach to one gallon of water and dump the mixture to the needed area.
How to Kill Mosquito Larvae in Water
While killing mosquito larvae is a great method to prevent an emerging mosquito infestation, you should also look into mosquito larvae prevention.
As mentioned earlier, stagnant water is their ideal dwelling place. So, it’s best to make sure that there’s no stagnant water in and around your house.
That being said, you might have a source of stagnant water that isn’t as easy to siphon away. Pools and ponds are two of the most common stagnant water sources that’ll become a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, for example.
Here are a couple of ways that might keep the pesky little things at bay:
Move Your Water
Since stagnant water is the issue, why not bring some bubbles into the mix? We recommend getting a pond aerator or a water pump.
Using an aeration technique will effectively ward off mosquitoes from flying near your water. That’s not all; this added aeration will create turbulence in the water. The added movement will disrupt the mosquito larvae’s breathing.
Mosquito larvae swim up to the surface of the water to catch their breath. The constant flow in the water from a pump won’t give these larvae their chance to breathe properly.
Minimize Your Greenery
Unfortunately for the flowerbeds and garden surrounding your pond and pool area, mosquitos take shelter in them after feeding time.
To reduce the number of larvae in your standing water, you’ll need to minimize the greenery around your pool or pond. And, if possible, try to keep the surrounding area as dry as possible. This will, ultimately, ruin the mosquito’s habitat, rendering your area larvae-free.
If you’re not too keen on getting rid of your surrounding vegetation, we recommend you avoid overwatering the region.
Kill Mosquito Larvae – Conclusion
Mosquitos can be a real pain. Apart from their general nuisances, they’re also dangerous to have around you and your family. The insect can spread numerous diseases that you wouldn’t want near you.
Killing the blood-sucker’s larvae is the right way to start your prevention process. Using the above-mentioned methods will surely help you get rid of any mosquito larvae effectively.
Good luck!
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