Eliminate standing water: This is the most crucial step, as mosquitoes breed in stagnant water. Regularly check and empty any containers that hold water, such as tires, buckets, planters, toys, birdbaths, flower pot saucers, or trash containers. Tightly cover water storage containers like buckets, cisterns, or rain barrels to prevent mosquitoes from entering and laying eggs.
Use repellents: Apply insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-meta-toluamide), picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to your skin and clothing. These repellents effectively deter mosquitoes from biting you.
Natural remedies: While not as effective as repellents or insecticides, some natural options may help deter mosquitoes. These include:
Planting mosquito-repellent plants: Citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, rosemary, basil, and lavender are all known to have mosquito-repellent properties. Planting these around your patio or yard may help reduce the mosquito population.
Using essential oils: Mix essential oils like citronella, lemongrass, lavender, or tea tree oil with water to create a natural mosquito repellent spray.
Indoor control:
Use mosquito nets: If you sleep in an area with a lot of mosquitoes, consider using a mosquito net around your bed.
Kill mosquitoes indoors: Use an indoor insect fogger or spray to target areas where mosquitoes may be hiding, following the instructions carefully.
Outdoor control:
Broadcast treatments: If you have a serious mosquito problem, consider hiring a professional pest control company to apply a larvicide or adulticide treatment to your yard.