Eco-Friendly Ways To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes

Some places are going to be more likely to have mosquitoes than others. If you’re in the middle of Nevada near no water, you may have never seen a mosquito. Certainly, in areas of this state where there is water, there is foliage, and there is a natural ecology, there will be some mosquitoes. The bugs are all over the world. But in the desert, there are fewer.

Mosquitoes like regions that have a high level of humidity that isn’t beset by the wind. They can hibernate through winter, too. Some of the worst places for mosquitoes are the tundra of the frozen north, and places like Minnesota where there’s a great deal of humidity, and plenty of water. However, generally, you can expect mosquitoes in more equatorial regions.

Florida is thick with mosquitoes. California has them in more natural areas, but in the desert, you don’t tend to see them as often. That doesn’t mean they’re not around, though; just not in so great numbers, because the local climate makes it hard for them to reproduce.

In any event, regardless of where you are, you want to keep these bugs at bay, and naturally. Following we’ll briefly explore three key ways you can get rid of mosquitoes without hurting either yourself or your environment. Going the natural route is very wise, as going with non-natural options can expose you to other unwanted collateral health issues.

1. Be Careful Not To Leave Any Standing Water

If you’ve got a bucket you left out when it rained, that bucket could get a few centimeters or even millimeters of standing water. If a momma and poppa mosquito see that veritable reservoir (in their eyes), they’ll start a family. Mosquito larvae do not need a lot of water. They need a bare minimum, and their maturation process is quick.

Carefully remove all standing water from your property, and if you do have containers that could collect water and provide a nursery for these pests, be sure to either turn those containers over, or cover them such that they don’t incidentally collect water.

2. Citronella, Catnip, Lavender, Garlic, Rosemary

There are a lot of plants that mosquitoes don’t like in terms of smell. Garlic, citronella, lavender, catnip, and rosemary are several common ones you can use to repel mosquitoes.

Certainly, some have a more natural aroma when grown from the ground than others. Often what people do is use oils derived from such plants that are burned in a tiki torch. Citronella is the most popular in this regard, but you need not necessarily burn the oil.

3. Application Of Essential Oils Rather Than Repellant

As it turns out, mosquito repellents that include chemicals like “DEET” can actually be toxic for your health. However, you can rub lavender essential oil all over you, repel mosquitoes, and smell good simultaneously. Many essential oils repel mosquitoes and can be directly applied to your body.

4. When You Can’t Get Rid Of Standing Water, Bti

In some scenarios, you don’t actually have the option to get rid of standing water. For example, perhaps you live at the back of a lake, or with an idyllic pond in your backyard. Not only do you not want to get rid of that standing water, it’s a big draw for your move to such a property in the first place. Maybe you’ve got a pool in the backyard.

Well, you could use chemicals to keep mosquitoes at bay, or you could use BTI products, such as “Mosquito Dunk”, which is available at most department stores. “Bti” is a bacteria which specifically targets mosquitoes.

Keeping Your Premises Mosquito-Free
Hopefully you or your young ones never have to contend with West Nile, Malaria, or Zika virus. However, very few who become limited by these ailments expected they would. Not carefully safeguarding your property could very realistically expose your family to severe mosquito-borne disease.

Thankfully, there are natural methods to repel mosquitoes. You can use healthy topical ointments, you can burn tiki torches with plants that have an odor repelling the bugs, or you could even grow plants that give off an effluvia which is naturally repellant. Whichever methods best work for you will likely be the most appropriate here.