Protect yourself without harming pollinators or other wildlife

Eliminate breeding grounds. Most mosquitoes fly only short distances from where they hatch, so it is very important that we look for breeding sites around our houses.  Mosquito larvae and pupae (see what they look like in the image below) require stagnant water to develop, such as water in clogged gutters, large puddles of standing water, flower-pot saucers, bird baths, water bowls for pets and dense groundcover. Draining standing water or making it turbulent will greatly reduce mosquito populations.

Get an agitator or “water wiggler” for your bird bath to prevent Mosquito larva from hatching. Moving water also tends to attract more birds, so make sure to clean your bird bath frequently.

Use Mosquito dunks. If there is a location where you can’t eliminate water, use mosquito dunks, which are toxic only to the larvae of mosquitoes and other biting flies and are nontoxic to other wildlife. The dunks contain Bacillus thuringiensis or “Bt,” a bacterium naturally found in soil. You also can make DIY mosquito larva traps using dunks.

Encourage mosquito-eating birds. There are lots of birds that eat mosquitoes, and we can encourage them to help us by making our yards and neighborhoods bird-friendly. Bats are also great mosquito-eaters, so put up a bat house or two if you have a likely spot.

Limit opening and closing doors or windows from dusk to dawn, when mosquitoes are most active. Repair or replace window screens with holes or tears.

Cover up with clothing: Simple, but true that long sleeves and pants will prevent most bites. Repellents (see below) can prevent many of the rest.

Turn on a fan: Mosquitoes can’t fly against a steady breeze.

Suck them up with a vaccuum cleaner or dust buster (by the way, this also works with grasshoppers in the garden).  Mosquitos especially like to congregate in dark corners.

REPELLENTS:
Both synthetic and plant-based insect repellents can be effective at keeping  mosquitoes away.  Always follow application instructions.

• • DEET, considered to be the gold standard in repellents, provide the longest lasting protection, but it is toxic to dogs and cats and there are some reports about human toxicity, especially when combined with Permethrin.
  • Consider products that contain Picaridin, an effective mosquito combatant that is reportedly safe for dogs and cats.  Or check out Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus or Cedarcide as a non-toxic alternative for humans and animals.  If you have questions about product safety, Beyond Pesticides is a trustworthy organization.
  • Try coconut scented oil, cream or soap, which researchers have been found to be distasteful to mosquitos. Check out their findings on this and other scents as a mosquito repellent.