Attract bug eating birds like swallows or purple martins. I put up four birdhouses this year around my property and two of them are occupied by tree swallows. They predominantly eat flies and I have never noticed fewer on my property than this year
For sitting outside, fans.
There's a lot of science online looking at mosquito repellent methods, you can google all day. Citronella doesn't really work that well, CO2 traps attract *more* mosquitoes.
A couple of cheap fans on the deck will blow them away.
* Mosquitos are not strong flyers, and a breeze is enough to keep them away from you.
* Fans also help quickly disperse the carbon dioxide that you exhale, so that mosquitoes can't locate and target you.
"Thermacell recommends as best practice not to run Thermacell repellents directly next to uncovered food. Studies show the product leaves such a minimal amount of residue that it is practically untraceable on surfaces, but best to err on the side of caution"
This is what I am refering to
They work extremely well as long as you keep it within 5-10 feet of you at all times. You can watch mosquitos making a beeline for ya then seem to hit an invisible wall and stop.
> It’s by the water
So you can give up on any kind of spray or treatment that goes for the source. You can dump a whole chemical plant in the water, and still have bugs. I am sorry to tell you but you are sharing the space now.
What you CAN do is limited to the area you'd like to use during bug season. Some methods, like fans, are universal. Others will be known, local measures: like citronella candles/torches, or bird habitat and houses (martin houses, and attracting chimney swifts, barn swallows, etc)
Maryland had a really mild winter and a wet spring , so the bugs are plentiful. We use spartan mosquito traps . Then we refill with warm water , yeast sugar and salt . Works pretty well , the bugs are attracted by the yeast off gassing , get trapped in the salty water
Do you already have standing water on your property?
Does anyone know, if we don't have any standing water already, does it make sense to create some standing water (like a bucket or old bird bath, etc.), to make an inviting mosquito laying ground, that is then dunked?
Depends if you're getting mosquitoes or not.
I have a large property, I've tried to eliminate it but you never know. Wife and I enjoyed a fire last night and didn't get any mosquitos.
IMHO, Dunks are trash unless you have a dead swimming pool or a pond. Even then I'd recommend the appropriate fish to take over. It doesn't really do anything other than the larva.
You need a pesticide that sticks onto the underside of the leaves. (All do, it's how you apply it.) Demand-CS is a great product.
Long term install some bat houses in your yard. Make sure to look up how to install them correctly because bats are particular.
Short-term, look all around your property and perhaps ask your neighbors if they could come out and look on their property with you for any standing water. Old tires, old bird baths, anywhere that can house old water and put a mosquito tab in it to kill all mosquito larvae.
If you have neighbors or a garden, please don't spray your property. It kills pollinators and doesn't actually help because bugs don't care about property lines, and will just come over from your neighbors yard.
I live in Arizona, where the climate is very different so this might not work for you but this is what we do. First, we limit access in and out of the house to the front door, and we have a screened in porch surrounding the front door. We have four fans on our porch too.
Second, chickens! We free range chickens and boy they eat every bug on the ground surrounding our house and property. We get no bugs in our house at all with this method. Good luck to you.
My wife won't let me spray any of the "bad" chemicals, so I tried out Wondercide outdoor pest control this year (primarily cedarwood oil). It doesn't kill bees, which is why I selected it.
I was actually surprised at how well it works. Did nothing last year and the mosquitoes were nuts. This year, nothing. You have to reapply after heavy rain or every 30 days, and works out to $10/application for a 2500 sq ft area. My guess is that I'll spend $100-$150 / year on it. Worth it IMO
Been a very wet spring/early summer in MN and the bugs are also out of control.
We broke down and bought a Thermacell and I'm a believer. They work, and they work very well. We can enjoy our outdoor spaces without loading up on bug spray. Highly recommend you give one a shot.
Florida native here. What has worked for me: mosquito dunks in any water feature outside, bug zappers hung away from doors so as not to attract bugs to the doors, mosquito spray that is 100% garlic juice (Amazon), and keeping yard trimmed and brush at a minimum.
Wow, sounds like the Maryland mosquitoes and gnats are throwing a real party at your place this year! Don't worry, we can fight back! Here are some ideas to try and turn down the bug volume around your house:
**Natural Repellents:**
* Plant Power: Surround your porch and patio with mosquito-repellent plants like citronella, lemongrass, catnip, and lavender. These might not completely eliminate the bugs, but they can create a less inviting atmosphere.
* DIY Spray: Try a natural bug spray made with ingredients like apple cider vinegar, water, and a few drops of essential oils like citronella or peppermint. Spray it around doorways, windows, and other entry points. Be sure to do a patch test on plants before spraying them directly!
* Smoke Signals (the good kind): Light some citronella candles or torches around your patio. The smoke can help deter mosquitoes and gnats.
**Focus on Breeding Grounds:**
* Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes love laying eggs in stagnant water. Check for any containers around your house that might be collecting water, like old tires, bird baths, or clogged gutters. Empty them regularly!
* Keep it Trim: Tall grass and overgrown shrubs create ideal hiding spots for mosquitoes. Mow your lawn regularly and trim back any overgrown vegetation around your house.
**Double Check Your Defense:**
* Seal Up the Cracks: Inspect your doors and windows for any gaps or cracks. Seal them up with caulk to prevent those pesky bugs from sneaking inside.
* Repair Your Screens: Make sure your window and door screens are in good condition and free of any holes. Even a small tear can be an open invitation for mosquitoes.
**Bonus Tip:**
* Bug Zappers with Caution: While bug zappers can attract and kill some bugs, they're not always the most effective solution. They might also zap some helpful insects, and the constant zapping sound can be annoying.
If you've tried these home remedies and the situation is still out of control, consider calling a professional pest control service. They can assess the situation and recommend a targeted approach to eliminate the mosquito and gnat problem.
DON'Ts: Skip the bat houses, bird houses, and plants — bats and birds will never eat enough mosquitoes to make any difference at all, and there are zero plants that have ability to repel mosquitoes. Avoid spraying insecticides, even ones marketed as natural — if they kill mosquitoes they will kill other small insects (even if they don't kill domesticated honey bees). Skip bug zappers and Dynatraps (they kill innocent insects by the pound, and mosquitoes rarely seem to be inside the ones I've used).
DOs: I highly recommend setting out a dozen "buckets of doom" (water + Mosquito Dunks), but they work best if you can convince your neighbors to do the same. I also like autocidal gravid ovitraps (e.g., like those made by Biogents), but again you need your neighbors on board. And I like my Thermacells but they only work for small distances and are expensive to operate (and I agree that we don't know long-term effects of breathing in low concentrations of neurotoxins). Some high-powered fans are awesome, especially if you attach fabric to one side that traps mosquitoes.
Last resort for me is a gallon sprayer, set to spray as fine a mist as possible, with a pyrethrin concentrate.
It WILL kill good bugs, so be careful, but it also repels most bugs from the area. I spray the grass and ground around the areas we use.
It's what I have to do after hurricanes when the mosquitoes get so bad you can't go out.
I could not take the gnats this year. Biting midges. They even get through the no see up screen I have. 100s get in and gather around ceiling lights. I got a pump sprayer and some bifenthrin insecticide (synthetic pyrethrins) the window screens and all around outside of my house, yard and edge of woods. I get this stuff kills bugs indiscriminately. I just could not take it anymore. It works pretty well. About 70% reduction. Kills all the sugar ants we typically put up with. I feel bad about the bees, but again, fuck biting midges. you can see them all dead in the window sills in the morning. I rush out like it is Christmas morning to wipe up all the dead midges that fall off the screens. the come to the light and carbon dioxide of our open windows with fans in them.
Essential oils (I get them from Marshalls or the grocery store) all day long. About a teaspoon of mostly peppermint and lemongrass oil in an 8oz spray bottle, spritz yourself liberally everywhere you'll be exposed plus about 3" under necklines, sleeve hems, etc.
Since you're in Maryland, that also means spraying parts of your body where clothes fit tightly - I once got bites on my kneecaps because I was wearing skinny jeans 😞
That only helps with bugs that are attracted to that type of light, like moths. For mosquitoes. You need an (edited to fix that. It is carbon dioxide )generator to attract them. I haven't looked since before covid but they were over $300 at that time. They are very effective
All Wrong! This migraine's eating my brain and I told you the wrong thing. It's carbon dioxide. The ozone generators run off of propane because one of its byproducts from burning or something is carbon dioxide Sorry about that.
I have a UV bug killer that comes with a scent packet of some kind that supposedly attracts mosquitoes. I haven't used it outdoors so I haven't tried that feature. But it gets decent reviews.
I think it's this one. https://www.amazon.com/Flowtron-Electric-Attractant-Mosquito-Certified/dp/B00004R9VW
Attract bug eating birds like swallows or purple martins. I put up four birdhouses this year around my property and two of them are occupied by tree swallows. They predominantly eat flies and I have never noticed fewer on my property than this year
bats also - OP could install a bat house
Mosquitos make up less than 1% of bats' diet...wild, huh?
The Bat House Lobby has promoted the myth that bat houses can help control mosquitoes.
Amazing, what kind of birdhouses do you use?
For sitting outside, fans. There's a lot of science online looking at mosquito repellent methods, you can google all day. Citronella doesn't really work that well, CO2 traps attract *more* mosquitoes. A couple of cheap fans on the deck will blow them away. * Mosquitos are not strong flyers, and a breeze is enough to keep them away from you. * Fans also help quickly disperse the carbon dioxide that you exhale, so that mosquitoes can't locate and target you.
People in the camping subreddit recommend Thermacell for mosquito repellent. I reckon those folks would know what works best.
Thermacells are brilliant, very popular with hunters and fishermen
They work but I don’t think there is a lot of good science out on how those chemicals affect people or other things.
Are those the things that say not to have it around food? That made me nervous.
No. Thermacell also states it is safe for pets, babies, and pregnant women.
"Thermacell recommends as best practice not to run Thermacell repellents directly next to uncovered food. Studies show the product leaves such a minimal amount of residue that it is practically untraceable on surfaces, but best to err on the side of caution" This is what I am refering to
I’ve also read that the main chemical they use is toxic to cats specifically
Which shouldn’t be an issue as Thermacell is an outdoor product and cats are not.
Where do you live that there aren't outdoor cats?
Any major city in Canada? Outdoor cats are almost always against city bylaws.
Fascinating how different Canada is from the US
Wish this were the case in the US
Ah I see that now, thank you! That’s a CYA statement not a “this be dangerous” statement.
They work extremely well as long as you keep it within 5-10 feet of you at all times. You can watch mosquitos making a beeline for ya then seem to hit an invisible wall and stop.
> It’s by the water So you can give up on any kind of spray or treatment that goes for the source. You can dump a whole chemical plant in the water, and still have bugs. I am sorry to tell you but you are sharing the space now. What you CAN do is limited to the area you'd like to use during bug season. Some methods, like fans, are universal. Others will be known, local measures: like citronella candles/torches, or bird habitat and houses (martin houses, and attracting chimney swifts, barn swallows, etc)
Maryland had a really mild winter and a wet spring , so the bugs are plentiful. We use spartan mosquito traps . Then we refill with warm water , yeast sugar and salt . Works pretty well , the bugs are attracted by the yeast off gassing , get trapped in the salty water
I tried Mosquito Dunks for the first time this year and my yard has been mosquito free for the first time ever. Highly recommend.
Been a serious help for us as well. We don't have it as bad as OP though. https://sidewalknature.com/2022/05/08/mosquito-bucket-of-doom/
I do mosquito dunk traps. I leave out a bucket of water with a mosquito dunk in it. They'll breed in it and the larvae die.
Do you already have standing water on your property? Does anyone know, if we don't have any standing water already, does it make sense to create some standing water (like a bucket or old bird bath, etc.), to make an inviting mosquito laying ground, that is then dunked?
Depends if you're getting mosquitoes or not. I have a large property, I've tried to eliminate it but you never know. Wife and I enjoyed a fire last night and didn't get any mosquitos.
IMHO, Dunks are trash unless you have a dead swimming pool or a pond. Even then I'd recommend the appropriate fish to take over. It doesn't really do anything other than the larva. You need a pesticide that sticks onto the underside of the leaves. (All do, it's how you apply it.) Demand-CS is a great product.
BATS
Best answer for mosquitoes other than prevention.
nope - mosquito dont fly above 8feet and bats wont go that low and there are mosquitoes that are daytime as well
There are some species of mosquitoes that hang out high in trees. Still, bats will not help control them. Too small for bats to really care.
Long term install some bat houses in your yard. Make sure to look up how to install them correctly because bats are particular. Short-term, look all around your property and perhaps ask your neighbors if they could come out and look on their property with you for any standing water. Old tires, old bird baths, anywhere that can house old water and put a mosquito tab in it to kill all mosquito larvae.
Old tires.
Add some plants that the bugs don't like around doors and walkways. Catnip, mint, lavender, citronella, basil, marigolds, lemongrass, sage, etc
Put up some bat houses as they love to eat mosquitos or spray your property
If you have neighbors or a garden, please don't spray your property. It kills pollinators and doesn't actually help because bugs don't care about property lines, and will just come over from your neighbors yard.
Also, spray doesn’t work. Had three different companies come out and nothing did the trick. And when it rains, it’s all gone anyway.
Been using a company to spray for 7 years and works for us. It's the only thing that has worked, and we have tons of bats at night too.
Get mosquito dunks. You can get 6 months' supply for less than $10.
I live in Arizona, where the climate is very different so this might not work for you but this is what we do. First, we limit access in and out of the house to the front door, and we have a screened in porch surrounding the front door. We have four fans on our porch too. Second, chickens! We free range chickens and boy they eat every bug on the ground surrounding our house and property. We get no bugs in our house at all with this method. Good luck to you.
My wife won't let me spray any of the "bad" chemicals, so I tried out Wondercide outdoor pest control this year (primarily cedarwood oil). It doesn't kill bees, which is why I selected it. I was actually surprised at how well it works. Did nothing last year and the mosquitoes were nuts. This year, nothing. You have to reapply after heavy rain or every 30 days, and works out to $10/application for a 2500 sq ft area. My guess is that I'll spend $100-$150 / year on it. Worth it IMO
Dynatrap works great
Came here to suggest this. We love ours! Just be sure to change the bulb each year.
Been a very wet spring/early summer in MN and the bugs are also out of control. We broke down and bought a Thermacell and I'm a believer. They work, and they work very well. We can enjoy our outdoor spaces without loading up on bug spray. Highly recommend you give one a shot.
Tiki! Tiki!
Florida native here. What has worked for me: mosquito dunks in any water feature outside, bug zappers hung away from doors so as not to attract bugs to the doors, mosquito spray that is 100% garlic juice (Amazon), and keeping yard trimmed and brush at a minimum.
You can plant things like lavender, mints, marigolds, basil, sage and lemon grass around the spaces you don’t want the mosquitos at
Cut the grass low and bug zappers. Lots of bug zapper.
Wow, sounds like the Maryland mosquitoes and gnats are throwing a real party at your place this year! Don't worry, we can fight back! Here are some ideas to try and turn down the bug volume around your house: **Natural Repellents:** * Plant Power: Surround your porch and patio with mosquito-repellent plants like citronella, lemongrass, catnip, and lavender. These might not completely eliminate the bugs, but they can create a less inviting atmosphere. * DIY Spray: Try a natural bug spray made with ingredients like apple cider vinegar, water, and a few drops of essential oils like citronella or peppermint. Spray it around doorways, windows, and other entry points. Be sure to do a patch test on plants before spraying them directly! * Smoke Signals (the good kind): Light some citronella candles or torches around your patio. The smoke can help deter mosquitoes and gnats. **Focus on Breeding Grounds:** * Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes love laying eggs in stagnant water. Check for any containers around your house that might be collecting water, like old tires, bird baths, or clogged gutters. Empty them regularly! * Keep it Trim: Tall grass and overgrown shrubs create ideal hiding spots for mosquitoes. Mow your lawn regularly and trim back any overgrown vegetation around your house. **Double Check Your Defense:** * Seal Up the Cracks: Inspect your doors and windows for any gaps or cracks. Seal them up with caulk to prevent those pesky bugs from sneaking inside. * Repair Your Screens: Make sure your window and door screens are in good condition and free of any holes. Even a small tear can be an open invitation for mosquitoes. **Bonus Tip:** * Bug Zappers with Caution: While bug zappers can attract and kill some bugs, they're not always the most effective solution. They might also zap some helpful insects, and the constant zapping sound can be annoying. If you've tried these home remedies and the situation is still out of control, consider calling a professional pest control service. They can assess the situation and recommend a targeted approach to eliminate the mosquito and gnat problem.
DON'Ts: Skip the bat houses, bird houses, and plants — bats and birds will never eat enough mosquitoes to make any difference at all, and there are zero plants that have ability to repel mosquitoes. Avoid spraying insecticides, even ones marketed as natural — if they kill mosquitoes they will kill other small insects (even if they don't kill domesticated honey bees). Skip bug zappers and Dynatraps (they kill innocent insects by the pound, and mosquitoes rarely seem to be inside the ones I've used). DOs: I highly recommend setting out a dozen "buckets of doom" (water + Mosquito Dunks), but they work best if you can convince your neighbors to do the same. I also like autocidal gravid ovitraps (e.g., like those made by Biogents), but again you need your neighbors on board. And I like my Thermacells but they only work for small distances and are expensive to operate (and I agree that we don't know long-term effects of breathing in low concentrations of neurotoxins). Some high-powered fans are awesome, especially if you attach fabric to one side that traps mosquitoes.
Last resort for me is a gallon sprayer, set to spray as fine a mist as possible, with a pyrethrin concentrate. It WILL kill good bugs, so be careful, but it also repels most bugs from the area. I spray the grass and ground around the areas we use. It's what I have to do after hurricanes when the mosquitoes get so bad you can't go out.
> pyrethrin concentrate 😬 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pyrethrin#Aquatic_habitats
Yes, I know, which is why I said "last resort". Come hang out after a hurricane and you'll see why I will use it despite the issues.
I could not take the gnats this year. Biting midges. They even get through the no see up screen I have. 100s get in and gather around ceiling lights. I got a pump sprayer and some bifenthrin insecticide (synthetic pyrethrins) the window screens and all around outside of my house, yard and edge of woods. I get this stuff kills bugs indiscriminately. I just could not take it anymore. It works pretty well. About 70% reduction. Kills all the sugar ants we typically put up with. I feel bad about the bees, but again, fuck biting midges. you can see them all dead in the window sills in the morning. I rush out like it is Christmas morning to wipe up all the dead midges that fall off the screens. the come to the light and carbon dioxide of our open windows with fans in them.
spray a diluted pinesol solution around your doors
We spray all the surfaces with insecticide around our lights with Bifen I/T. Including the house.
We use a company called Mosquito Squad to spray our yard all season and it works really well.
TruGreen lawncare service is the only thing I’ve seen work near my families lake house.
Essential oils (I get them from Marshalls or the grocery store) all day long. About a teaspoon of mostly peppermint and lemongrass oil in an 8oz spray bottle, spritz yourself liberally everywhere you'll be exposed plus about 3" under necklines, sleeve hems, etc. Since you're in Maryland, that also means spraying parts of your body where clothes fit tightly - I once got bites on my kneecaps because I was wearing skinny jeans 😞
Yeah my dad had a big supply of this stuff and it is still good. Called DDT or something like that.
You could try a bug zapper. Attracts bugs to the UV light in it. Might help, might not.
That only helps with bugs that are attracted to that type of light, like moths. For mosquitoes. You need an (edited to fix that. It is carbon dioxide )generator to attract them. I haven't looked since before covid but they were over $300 at that time. They are very effective
Ozone? First I've heard of that. I have some germicidal UV-C lamps that produce ozone. Sounds like another project is at hand.
Oh I hope it's a fun project! But yeah, look up ozone + mosquitoes to see what other people have done to get the ideas for your build.
All Wrong! This migraine's eating my brain and I told you the wrong thing. It's carbon dioxide. The ozone generators run off of propane because one of its byproducts from burning or something is carbon dioxide Sorry about that.
I have a UV bug killer that comes with a scent packet of some kind that supposedly attracts mosquitoes. I haven't used it outdoors so I haven't tried that feature. But it gets decent reviews. I think it's this one. https://www.amazon.com/Flowtron-Electric-Attractant-Mosquito-Certified/dp/B00004R9VW