Mosquitoes are small pesky creatures that homeowners never want, whether in their homes or yards. They not only bite you or irritate you, but they also are carriers of some serious diseases like Zika, Dengue, yellow fever, malaria or West Nile etc.  

Homeowners willing to reduce the risk of mosquitoes must get rid of the natural habitats of mosquitoes in their yards. There are several ways through which homeowners can reduce the risk of mosquitoes, such as:

 Encourage Natural Predators

Fishes and birds are natural mosquito predators. So, if there is a pond in your garden, then you can pet some goldfish. Goldfish are known to eat mosquito larvae. Some birds like swallows, purple martins, waterfowl and other migratory birds also eat mosquitoes, so you can place some nesting boxes in your garden in order to encourage birds to visit your garden more often. Moreover, tadpoles, frogs, turtles, dragonfly and spiders are also mosquito predators.

 Mosquito Repellents

There are many plant-based and chemical-based mosquito repellent available in the market. When it comes to chemical-based repellents, you can use ones that contain active ingredients like DEET, IR3535 or Picaridin that Environmental Protection Agency approves. 

 Mosquito Proof Your Home

Homeowners can also protect their home from mosquitoes by installing insect screens on windows and doors to prevent mosquitoes from coming inside. They can also cover their beds with treated mosquito nets, reduce outdoor lighting at night, and keep their doors and windows closed. 

Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sources

As mosquitoes breed in water so eliminate any source where water can stand. Clean your yard regularly and remove all objects where water can get trapped, like tyres, broken flowerpots, pool liners, wheelbarrows, containers, bottles, barrels and buckets, birdbaths, children’s toys etc. Either clean or overturn them to prevent water from collecting or discard unnecessary items. Make sure to regularly clean and empty pet water dishes.

Mosquito Traps

Mosquito traps can help in reducing the mosquitoes around your home. Mosquito traps such as the American Biophysics ABC trap and mosquito magnets are promising technology for killing mosquitoes. These traps attract mosquitoes then either trap them or kills them.

Mosquito Repellent Plants

You can also plant trees that naturally deter mosquitoes and make your garden look more beautiful. A few of the plants that keep mosquitoes away are lavender, citronella, basil, catnip, marigold, lemongrass, peppermint, garlic, geraniums, rosemary etc.

These are some quick do-it-yourself methods to keep the mosquitoes away. You may also take the help of a professional pest control company to get rid of mosquitoes.