I have been working hard on my backyard for 2 years now. There used to be a lot of standing water a lot of the mosquitos I attributed to this. Now there isn’t any standing water, but we are having a horrible time with mosquitos. I have a few mosquito dunks in place (I’m on my 2nd month of their use – have 2 in the backyard, 1 in the front yard). Out of desperation, I got the ‘Tougher than Tom’ pesticide things you can hang in your yard but they also don’t seem be working (no bug friends inside). I want to have a native plant habitat but also would like to be able to use my yard and enjoy it. They are on me the moment I’m outside and it’s like they’re never ending. Any advice is appreciated.
Some of my flowers and progress pictures are included, as well as my cat tax.
by aportano
12 Comments
Any chance you have a clogged gutter or something?
I haven’t tested it myself but I’ve seen people wear hats with fake, clip on dragonflies and claim that it keeps mosquitoes away.
There’s always bug spray, too.
Create habitat for predators like dragonflies, bats, and certain birds
Create wind tunnels where the prevailing winds can gust through your property by thinning tall plants.
Use more mosquito dunks. Put pieces of dunks anywhere water pools on the property
Wear thin, light layers when outside. I like button up sun shirts because they barely touch your skin so the mosquitoes can’t really get me through them. And loose ultra thin hiking pants
Use fans for sitting areas
I’m a fan of this trap recommended by Joey Santore from Crime Pays Botany Doesn’t. Seeing as I had been following his YT channel for a couple of years I decided to give it a try and it does catch the mosquitoes.
Here is his video on the trap [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ-9DYVdi5c](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ-9DYVdi5c) I’ve been putting the netting in a plastic bag before putting it in the freezer.
This in tandem with 3 dunk buckets that I swap new dunkers in around every 2 weeks is my current method that seems to be working decently.
Could very easily be a neighbor as well, if there is absolutely no standing water on your property or on your roof.
Your local IFAS, if you live in the USA, should have a guide for bat houses in your area and other things of that nature. You would likely have the same problem if you just had a lawn outside. You can also purposefully have a water feature in the back to attract mosquitos and place mosquito dunks inside of it to weed out some of the population, but try attracting predators first.
My gutters have just a bit at the outside corner past the downspout where it collects water. Ideally, I should fix it to tilt toward the downspout more, but instead I’ve just been dropping half a mosquito dunk in periodically. Seems to make a big difference
I also have a tough time with mosquitos. I’ve heard of people filling 5 gallon buckets with water and putting mosquito dunks in them around the perimeter of the yard, but I haven’t tried it myself.
Off topic but what is plant in pic #2? It’s gorgeous
Let spider webs be. Have same issue except this summer when I’ve not cleared out any spider except when rare instance it crosses a path or door. It made all the change here
Separately—what is your lovely green eyed, one eared cat’s name please!
I treat my clothes in permetherin. It helps a lot. I have to retreat every couple weeks. I got in the habbit of wearing long pants and some special fiber longsleeve thing with a hood. Was an easy habit to adopt and makes a world of difference for me.
I have started to use dunks as well. I have 6 for about a quarter of an acre in the areas where i spend the most time. I think it has helped. My wife said she thought there were less mosquitoes as well.
Highly recommend 2-3 of the biogents mosquitaire. Game changer. My wife can enjoy the yard again! Happy to share more details if you like
Can I ask you a few questions about your diet?
I am a non mosquito magnet. They are around me, but very few are biting. I eat a lot of fiber, protein and fats. Most of my carbs come from vegetables and fruits (mostly berries).
Several friends are mosquito magnets. They seem to eat a lot of sugar and bread type carbs.
I am curious to find more information.If that theory is real, or just in my head. Thank you very much.