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How to Reduce Mosquitoes in Your Yard

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Mosquitoes are Annoying!

Mosquitoes are the most annoying thing about summer. Mosquitoes carry many diseases and kill more humans than any other animal or bug in the world.

A female mosquito can lay about 100 to 300 eggs at a time and most mosquitoes do not wander more than a mile from where they breed.

The average lifespan for a female mosquito is 3 to 100 days. Mosquitoes do not feed on blood, but the female mosquito requires blood for the development of her eggs. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in multiple water containers.

Here are some tips to reduce the mosquitoes in your yard.

Empty the Water in Your Flower Pots
Buy Mosquito Eating Fish
Live Koi Fish

Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish [Paperback]
How To Treat A Mosquito Bite
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Start by emptying all sources of water in plant containers. Drain the overflowing water out of pots. Mosquitoes will lay their young in standing water. If your pots are empty try bringing them in the garage or shed. You can also lay them on their side to keep the water out.

Buy Mosquito Eating Fish

For ponds, buy mosquito eating fish such as Shubunkins, Sarasa Comets or Koi. Mosquito eating fish can eat up to 500 mosquito larvae per day. Check local regulations for your area. You might also consider getting a net to cover your pond to keep your fish safe from predators, such as birds.

Live Koi Fish

Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish [Paperback]

Encyclopedia of Aquarium & Pond Fish

by: David Alderton

Amazon Price: $14.00 (as of 06/01/2012)

How To Treat A Mosquito Bite

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Attract Bats

Place a bat house in your yard. Bats can eat up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour. I know most people cringe at the thought of bats, but bats will make a meal out of your mosquito population. You might have to give the bats some time to find the bat house.

Woodlink NABAT Audubon Bat Shelter

Amazon Price: $27.95 (as of 05/31/2012)

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Mosquito Repellants

Mosquito Control For Your Pond

Use mosquito control products in your pond. Most are safe for fish and plants.

You can also try calling the city department where you live and see if they have mosquito control. They sometimes have mosquito control trucks that drive around at night and spray for mosquitoes.

Quick Kill Mosquito Dunks

Summit 111-5 Mosquito Dunks, 20-Pack

Amazon Price: $15.00 (as of 05/31/2012)

Guppies and minnows are good fish to have for mosquito control by National Geographic Society

Guppies and...
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Get a Waterfall

Get a waterfall, aerator, spitter or fountain. Mosquitoes only lay eggs in stagnant water. They will shy away from moving water. Make sure your pool is aerated and chlorinated or covered. You can also use your waterfall as a wishing well to throw coins in.

WFK8 Beckett Resin Pond Waterfall Kit

Beckett Corporation Waterfall Kit, Resin

Amazon Price: $83.95 (as of 05/31/2012)

Empty More Water Filled Items In Your Yard

Empty wading pools, wheelbarrows, tires, trash can lids, recycle bins, and gutters. Remove the debris from gutters to keep the water from collecting. You can buy or build a outdoor shed for storage.

Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed

Rubbermaid Horizontal Storage Shed, 32-cubic ft

Amazon Price: $314.00 (as of 06/01/2012)

Check the Ditches in Your Yard

Check standing water in puddles and ditches in your yard. You can purchase a sump pump to drain ditches. If you cannot drain the ditch, try using mosquito control pellets for ponds if you have standing water. If you do not need the ditch in your yard, try filling it in with dirt or sand.

Zoeller M53 Mighty-mate Submersible Sump Pump, 1/3 Hp

Amazon Price: $115.99 (as of 05/31/2012)

Cut Your Grass

Keep your grass cut regularly. Mosquitoes will hide in tall grass. Mosquitoes also breed in outside pet dishes. Make sure you change the water daily.

Yard Machines 11A-020B000 20-Inch 148cc Briggs & Stratton Mulch/Side Discharge Gas Powered Push Lawn Mower

Amazon Price: $149.79 (as of 05/31/2012)

Mosquito Barrier 2001 Liquid Spray Repellent, 1-Quart

Amazon Price: $19.90 (as of 05/31/2012)

Check Your Bird Bath

If you are like me, I love bird baths. I like to watch the birds land and take a bath in it. Change the water at least twice a week. Also clean the bird bath. Mosquitoes also love bird baths!

Attract Birds Not Mosquitoes! Water Rippling Bird Bath with Pedestal and Water Wiggler

API 390 Water Rippling Bird Bath with Pedestal and Water Wiggler

Amazon Price: $38.03 (as of 05/31/2012)

Winged Aquatics Bird Pond with 3 Tier Cascade

Amazon Price: $79.02 (as of 05/31/2012)

Use Insect Traps

Insect traps can reduce mosquitoes in your yard if used regularly. Also these insect raps will also trap other small flying insects.

Koolatron MK05 Champion Mosquito Trap

Amazon Price: $97.99 (as of 06/01/2012)

Springstar MOS12 Mosquito Trap

Amazon Price: $10.99 (as of 05/31/2012)

Cover Items in Your Yard

Fill or cover any containers that hold water to keep the mosquitoes out. You can use a tarp to cover outside items. You can also use a cover for your grill.

Texsport Blue Reinforced Rip-Stop Polyethylene Tarps

Amazon Price: (as of 05/31/2012)

Area Mosquito Repellant Lantern

ThermaCELL MR-9W Cordless Mosquito Repellent Patio Lantern

Amazon Price: $23.94 (as of 06/01/2012)

Mosquito Control

Anopheles Mosquito with Malaria

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MasterSash Apr 19, 2012 @ 3:20 pm | delete

Had no idea that bat houses were an option, or could be a good one at that. Another great tip is to keep your gutters clean of debris and gunk, and keep the water (as you said) flowing or moving. So clean your gutters or install a gutter protection system that creates no space for mesquitos to breed in, like a state-of-the-art, micro mesh system. Cool!

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GardenCherub Mar 21, 2012 @ 3:55 pm | delete

While on my fragrance quest, I searched for mosquito plant, because I love scented geraniums. Mosquito plant is Pelargonium citrosa, a scented geranium. Do you agree with most who say that it's repellant power against mosquitoes is minimal? Interesting lens, good ideas here. I hate mosquitoes.

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Snakesmum Sep 6, 2011 @ 11:37 pm | delete

We catch the mosquito larvae in our water tank and feed them to the goldfish! Wish there were bats around here, then I'd definitely have a bat house. :-)

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vallain Aug 7, 2011 @ 6:57 pm | delete

I think I need several bat houses to put in the woods by our back deck. Great tips!

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Ramonailona Jul 6, 2011 @ 5:43 pm | delete

Lot's of Greta information. I love the Lantern idea. I've been using a lantern sort of like it.
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