The best way to get rid of mosquitoes is by attacking the problem at its root by not allowing them to breed. The one way to do that is to find and get rid of all standing water as well as their hiding places. Since water is a necessary resource in the mosquito’s breeding process then if you deprive the mosquitoes of water, they will be unable to breed and move on.
1. Empty, Drain, Cover EVERY little thing that can or may hold the smallest amount of water. Mosquitoes only need the tiniest amount of water to breed, ie a plastic bottle with condensed water pooled in it.
2. Maintain Swimming Pools with proper care. If you have a small blow-up pool, make sure it isn’t holding any water, even in a fold and store in a garage away from dew or condensation.
3. Repair and prevent all outside leaks. Any liquid pooled on the ground can attract mosquitoes.
4. Empty (and clean) water collection pans for plants and bird baths as often as possible, at least weekly or purchase mosquito dunks.
5. Mow your lawns weekly. Mosquitoes like to rest and hide in taller grass, so keep it short.
6. Eliminate or fill all nooks, crannies and holes. Patios or porches with small crevices or openings harbor mosquitoes and their eggs. Even holes in trees. Consider filling all these holes with sand.
7. Friendly reminders to neighbors about problem areas are appreciated, as long as they come with a Hi and a smile. After all this is a problem that crosses fence lines and streets, so we need to work together.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes from Breeding and Collecting
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Info. from Kim in Angus Valley:
If people are interested in something we can all do to prevent mosquito breeding, I highly recommend everyone get some “mosquito bits” and sprinkle in your gutters, in the spot where your A/C condensation drips out, in any flower pot dishes, ponds, ANYWHERE no matter how small where there is the potential for standing water or muddy conditions: http://www.mosquitoreviews.com/mosquito-dunks-bits.html
Be wary of what chemicals use are using… You don’t want to be killing beneficial insects such as bees, dragonflies, butterflies etc. And the run off can be toxic to other organisms. Yes, the mosquito spray is derived from flowers, but that does not mean the effects are safe for the environment. Obviously you can do what you want in your backyard, but I just want people to be aware.
Here’s an article from The Dirt Doctor: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Dangers-of-Pyrethrum_vq2490.htm
“Because of a recent surge of interest in using pyrethrum for mosquito control, I feel that I need to make my warnings stronger. Pyrethrum and related products are neurotoxins. These days, they are being recommended for use as safe, natural insecticides. The concept of the backyard mosquito mist system in which they are being used is good, but cedar or other biological products should be used instead of neurotoxins. The alternatives work as well, but they don’t kill beneficial insects and are considerably less toxic.”
Here is a fact sheet from the National Pesticide Information Center: http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Dangers-of-Pyrethrum_vq2490.htm
Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrin Because of its high toxicity to fish and other aquatic invertebrates even at low doses, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends alternatives such as pesticide-free methods or alternative chemicals that are less harmful to the surrounding aquatic environment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrin Aside from the fact that they are also toxic to beneficial insects such as bees and dragonflies, pyrethroids are toxic to fish and other aquatic organisms. At extremely small levels, such as 2 parts per trillion,[8] pyrethroids are lethal to mayflies, gadflies, and invertebrates that constitute the base of many aquatic and terrestrial food webs.[9]
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidefactsheets/toxic/pyrethroid.php
“both pyrethroids and pyrethrins are extremely toxic to aquatic organisms”
“because pyrethroids are toxic to all insects, both beneficial insects and pests are affected by pyrethroid applications. In some cases, predator insects may be susceptible to a lower dose than the pest, disrupting the predator-prey relationship.”
Recently the Audobon Society posted something that I’d also like to share:
https://www.facebook.com/AudubonRI/photos/a.342241075028.345836.106600095028/10155612313660029/?type=1&fref=nf&pnref=story
“So, I was checking my voicemail this morning and there was one from a caller who said that she had her trees sprayed for caterpillars – trees occupied by three bird feeders – and now, she is upset that there are no birds at all for her to watch. She wonders if the spray could possibly have something to do with it. (Yes, spraying pesticides on your trees will have an effect on the songbirds.) It is not uncommon for us to get inquiries such as these, and it is with great frustration and sadness that we often are faced with educating people after the damage has been done. So, please let me take a moment to reach out to our Facebook friends and family and be proactive about this topic. All pesticides are designed to kill. Some are very targeted, such as B. T. (Bacillus thuringiensis) which primarily affects Lepidopterans (moths and butterflies), but most pesticides are broad and indiscriminate. When you make the choice to treat your house or landscape with rodenticides or grub treatment or mosquito foggers or any other pesticide treatment, you have an intent of ridding yourself of a specific creature that you find distasteful. However, nothing in nature exists in a vacuum. Everything is connected. When you affect one population, it has a ripple effect across the populations that depend upon and coexist with it. When you spray insecticide, for instance, it does not just kill the ‘bugs’ you don’t like, but kills all insects, including honeybees, butterflies and ladybugs. Likewise, when you spray, the insects do not simply disappear off the face of the earth. Many live a short time before they perish. In this time, they may be consumed by natural predators, like songbirds, small mammals and other insects. Pesticides may have a direct toxicity to these animals or may build up in their fat or blood and cause illness or death over time. Even so-called “green” chemicals are still intended to kill, and though they may be derived from natural sources or biodegrade quickly, they are still highly toxic to you and other organisms.
Friends, it is so very important in this day and age, with the steady decline of bird populations and the utter devastation of pollinator populations that we humans take a serious, proactive look at the choices we make and the practices we support – either directly or indirectly. It is vital that we do not go blindly into the world, but make ourselves informed and educated about products and practices and about science, industry and nature. Here at the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, we very much want to help people become educated and able to make informed choices. We are here to answer your questions and point you in the direction of reliable and scientifically accurate information. But we also encourage you to think and question BEFORE you act. Your actions have consequences. Thanks for listening!”
Bti, the active ingredient in both, is harmless to fish, frogs, and other wildlife, as well as flowers and other plants. It only affects the larvae of mosquitoes, black flies, fungus gnats and other closely related insects, since only they have the right combination of enzymes and alkalinity in their midgut to make Bti toxic.
They have them at Home Depot or on Amazon etc.